Giuseppe and Anna Lorusso

Alumni Type: Immigrants
Country of Origin: Italy
Ship Name: Queen Frederica
Port of Entry: Pier 21, Halifax
Date of Arrival: October 27, 1955
Age on Arrival: 25 - Giuseppe; 22 - Anna

On October 19, 1955, Giuseppe Lorusso (age 25) and his wife Anna (née Loberto, age 22) boarded the Queen Frederica in Naples to leave for a new life in Canada. Natives of the town of Curinga in the province of Catanzaro, Italy, Giuseppe and Anna brought with them their two children, Maria, age 4 and Paolo, age 4 months. The voyage was a difficult one with bad weather over the open ocean causing sea-sickness for mother and children. Maria had to be seen by a doctor because of an infection caused by a vaccination. Their destination was Toronto, Ontario where they were to join Anna's father, Tommaso Loberto, who had paved the way for them when he came to Canada in 1952. Tommaso worked on the railroad across Canada before settling in Toronto upon the arrival of his family. They arrived in Halifax on October 27, 1955 and boarded the train for Toronto where they arrived at Union Station two days later. The following year they were also to be joined by Anna's mother, Beatrice, her brother Arcangelo, and her two sisters, Giovanna and Bettina.

Anna and Giuseppe reside in Scarborough and have worked hard to provide a university and college education for all four of their children, including Tom and Beatrice who were born in Toronto. We, their children, are grateful for the courage they demonstrated, leaving their native land at a young age to ensure a future of opportunity for their family.