Michael & Jenny Ambruso Family

Here are two photos of Michael Ambruso's family.  Left Photo: ca 1927 of Jenny and Michael with daughter Esther and son Roxy.  Right Photo:  ca. 1935 of Esther, Mildred and Roxy Ambruso.

Marriages & Families - Michael and Jennie Ambruso

Wedding photo of Michael Ambruso and Jennie Lammard - 1920

Michele Antonio (Mike) Ambruso married Vincenza (Jennie) Lammard (originally: Lammardo) at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church in Garfield in February 1920. The best man and bridesmaid were Lawrence Mancini and Felicia Ambruso, Mike's sister.  Lawrence and Felicia were engaged at the time and got married themselves two months later.  Michael and Jennie lived with Mary and Patsy Bonelli at 139 Harrison Avenue in Garfield for the first few years of their marriage.  Their first child, Esther Rose, was born in 1921, when they were still living there.  A few years later, they bought their own house at 586 Midland Avenue.  The house was built by Jennie’s father Antonio Lammardo.  Tony was a local entrepreneur who owned a convenience store.  He was also a construction contractor and a local fireman. 

Their first son was born in 1925.  By proper naming convention, he should have been named Rocco after his grandfather.  However, Jennie was very Americanized.  She preferred a less Italian-sounding name, so he was named Roxy.  Their next child was a girl born in 1931.  Sticking to convention, she was baptized Domenica in honor of Jennie’s mother; but she was always called “Millie”. 

Michael first worked at the woolen mill but was unemployed for most of the Great Depression.  The family had to sell the house on Midland Avenue and move to a rented apartment in Wallington, NJ.  Mike found a job as a laborer at Midwest Pipe Co. where he worked for over 25 years doing hard manual labor. Mike and Jennie remained in Wallington for the rest of their lives.