LIVERMORE FALLS – Laura M. Lucarelli Alvino, 85, a longtime resident of Park Street, died Sunday, Feb. 6, at her home.

She was one of 10 children born to Dominic and Angelina Mollicone Lucarelli, on Feb. 16, 1919, and the only child born in America. Her older siblings were born in Italy before the family immigrated to America on Sept. 22, 1914. The family came here via the White Star Line from Naples, Italy, to Boston, Mass.

The family made their home on Wheeler Street in Livermore Falls. Her mother passed away at the young age of 52, leaving her, at 11, to care for the seven-room home, her father and her brother, Fegeo. She attended Livermore Falls High School for a few years, until the responsibility of running the entire household, piling wood, taking care of the chickens, and trying to go back and forth to school four times a day became too much.

On May 16, 1938, she married Herbert Alvino at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay. They made their home on Park Street and together operated Taglienti’s Store. During World War II, Herbert was drafted into the Army at the age of 37, stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. During his time away, she kept house and worked at Taglienti’s Store with her father-in-law and brother-in-law.

Part of her duties were to participate in mock air raids whenever the sirens sounded. During these air raids, she would get into her 1937 panel truck, used for delivering groceries, pick up mock casualties and take them to the Baptist Church in Livermore Falls, to administer the correct first aid procedures. Herbert came home in October of 1945. They were married for 49 years, and he passed away on July 18, 1987.

During the 1970s she worked at Mann’s Clothing Store in Livermore Falls. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay and was an active and hardworking member of the American Legion Auxiliary, George Bunton, Post 10 of Livermore Falls, since 1945. She held the office of treasurer for one year, and served as local president for 16 terms, and as president of the Second District in 1964 for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. She also held many chairmanships on the department level, and always gave of her time to support the district and state activities of the American Legion.

She was also a member of the Community Development Advisory Committee, chairman of the March of Dimes, past president of the Sons of Italy for 21 years, and a member of the Mizpah Circle of Kings Daughters and Sons for more than 50 years. She always enjoyed traveling and visiting with her daughters, family, and friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Loretta Hamann and her husband, Richard, of Lewiston, and Donna Alvino of Portland; two sisters, Aleanza Sue Togneri of Greenfield, Mass., and Elvezia DiSotto of Livermore Falls; grandchildren, Daniel and James Alvino, Stephen Hamann, Jennifer Alvino, Gregory Hamann, Nicole Hamann, Christopher Alvino; great-grandchildren, Derek Jack-Herbert Alvino, and Benjamin Stephen Hamann; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by brothers, Fegeo, Olindo, Achille “Echo” and Quirino; sisters, Italia, and twin baby girls.

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