Michelina (Lina) Massullo, beloved wife of Checchino (Chick) Massullo, died in her sleep at her home in San Diego on August 18th, 2018. She is the loving mother of her son, Vincent, and her daughter, Emily Rose.
Lina, along with Chick, was a longtime resident of San Diego, California. She and Chick emigrated from the region of Abruzzo, Italy in 1949 to Passaic, New Jersey. After living in New Jersey for nearly 9 years, she moved to San Diego and came to love San Diego as her hometown.
When she first came to San Diego, Lina worked in the garment industry for Ratner Company; while Chick worked for Convair. Together they saved, bought a house, and, when Convair laid off hundreds of workers just before Christmas in 1958, she and Chick decided to pursue starting a pasta making company.
Chick had been an engineer with Buitoni Pasta in New Jersey, and Lina was an excellent cook. She even cooked for Chef Boiardi at her home. Chick told her he was a cook but not the famous chef brought to the U.S. to consult for Buitoni. He just said,” I’m bringing a paisano home for dinner, he misses home, but make something nice, he knows how to cook.” It was only after the meal he let her know how famous he was.
With a loan from two dear friends, Amedeo DiCola, Orlando Franchi, both stone masons, and Chick’s father, Vincenzo, they purchased land in La Mesa, built a building and opened their first deli with a small factory in the back. They specialized in ravioli and tortellini.
Much to Lina’s chagrin, Chick came up with the name “Mamma Lina’s” for their ravioli company. When people asked the young woman behind the counter who was Mamma Lina, she would blush and say, “She’s busy in the back, may I help you?”
Lina was the head of production for their small pasta company. She was also the head of research & development. She also started the fresh bread dough in her home at 5 am so that they could have the bread baked and ready by 10 am. She would pack the dough in a large covered carrying bowl that took up the entire trunk of the car and then pack baby Emily in the car too. Off they’d drive to start the day; while Chick was in the factory already mixing the pasta dough for the day’s production at 5:30 am.
Lina always told her kids, Vince and Emily, “Our work is making pasta and running the deli. Your work is school.” She was so proud that both her kids did well in school, attended UCSD, and then went on to attend medical school and law school respectively.
Lina and Chick believed in working hard and enjoying family, friends, and attending socials and fundraising at the Order of Sons of Italy Lodge in San Diego, the Italian Club of San Diego and the Familia Club.
Over the years they helped raise funds to sponsor research for the March of Dimes, the scholarship fund for the Sons of Italy and the Students to Italy scholarship fund.
Sundays were always reserved for family, Nonno Michele (Grandpa Mike), Nonno Vincenzo (Grandpa Vince), Nonna Emiliarosa (Grandma Emiliarosa) and Nonna Emilia (Grandma Emilia) would come together and have Sunday lunch at home. Everyone would pitch in and fabulous meals were always served.
In the summer, picnics at the beach or the park were often organized. The Sons of Italy beach party at Crown Point, and the picnic at Felicita Park were always a highlight of the summer.
Lina often mentioned the time they had a small car accident on the way to Crown Point, where the Sons of Italy Beach Party was being held. No one was hurt, the car was barely scratched, but the large tray of lasagna was tossed all over the inside of the trunk. We had to be satisfied with hotdogs and hamburgers only.
Nonna Emiliarosa nearly fainted, but she soon calmed down; a small glass of homemade wine helped. The accident was nearly forgotten by the time the bocce tournament started.
When her son Vincent and daughter Emily married she and Chick were excited to welcome Bobbie, Vince’s wife, and Axel, Emily’s husband into the family. The four grandchildren, Gianna, Michael, Peter and Markus became the light of her life. She and Chick thoroughly enjoyed and completely love them.
Even though the grandkids live in Illinois and Northern California, Lina always relished the phone calls and the visits like every loving grandmother.
Lina finally retired from the company at the age of 72 and happily returned to her home garden. She grew organic chard, tomatoes, figs, plums, oranges and herbs; and cooked for friends and family.
You could say that food was the underlying theme of her life. She made pasta for thousands of people by supplying restaurants and markets in Southern California, but her favorite pastime and passion was cooking for, and sharing a meal with, her family.
Alla prossima cena Nonna; con tanto affetto ed amore.
Tua famiglia.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.goodbodymortuary.com for the Massullo family.
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