Thomasina (Amico) Felice, of Medford, died Friday at her home. She was 91.
Mrs. Felice was born in Chicago, the daughter of the late Cologero and the late Ignacia (Piazza) Amico. At age 14, Thomasina joined her parents as they returned to Sicily during the hardships of the American depression. In 1955, she returned to America in a rather dramatic fashion. Thomasina was to precede her husband and son as the family was emigrating to the United States. She was pregnant with her daughter and on the way to her ship and gave birth, boarding the steamer two days later. Baby Maria was discovered not to have a visa so mother and daughter were detained at Ellis Island only to be released on Christmas Eve once it was discovered that Thomasina was an American Citizen. They joined relatives in Winchester until the family was reunited and settled in Medford. The story drew wide attention and the press name Maria “America’s Youngest Stowaway”.
She was the beloved wife of Thomas Felice with whom she shared 64 years of marriage. She was a devoted mother to Patrick (Pasquale) Felice and his wife Josephine of Saugus, Maria Marinello of Medford and her late husband Rocco. She was a loving grandmother to Mary Susan, Christine, Leah, Jennifer, Catherine and the late Peter. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Wednesday at 8 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Clement Church, 71 Warner Street, Medford, at 9 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with the family Tuesday 4 thru 7. Services will conclude with entombment at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, Malden.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Thomasina´s name to the Peter T. Marinello Scholarship Fund at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Inc., 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215.