Application for grave marker and resulting stone for Pvt Louis N. 'Louie" Spera in the Calvary Cemetery,
Madera, California. Pvt Spera was one of the victims of the
Fulbeck tragedy and was initially laid to rest in the American Cemetery in Cambridge, England at Plot Q, section
2, Grave 12. Following the war his remains were repatriated to his
hometown of Madera.. Pvt was killed in
an accident on
September 2 , 1944. His awards include the Purple Heart.
To read about the Fulbeck incident [click
here]
The Spera family suffered a second loss when their son
Sgt Anthony l. Spera, a B-17 crewman in the 306 AAF Bombardment Group
(Heavy) was killed in action. Both sons are buried with their
parents. |
 Angelina
Spera Fuller
Angelina was a special lady to the
Family and Friends of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, as
she honored the memory of her brother Louie who
was killed accidentally in 1944 while serving with the
508th in England.
Anyone who knew Angelina also knew that she never
failed to remember both of
her brothers lost during WWII.
What many people may not know is that she never
forgot to remember veterans of all ages and eras on
Memorial Day and she felt it was her duty to do so.
Jumpmaster was fortunate enough to be one
of those veterans to receive a phone call and a gracious "Thank you for
your service." The first few years she wouldn't even identify
herself but eventually I learned the name of this mystery caller.
The calls were short as she had many to
make that day but it was wonderful to hear her voice each year.
One year she asked if I liked almonds and the next thing I knew a large
of bag of the nuts arrived at my doorstep.
Now it is my turn to say, "Angelina, you are missed
and thank you for your service to myself and many
others." |
Angelina Spera Fuller was born on January 12, 1921,
in a small ranch house in rural Madera, the first daughter and 4th child
of Tulia and Luigi, immigrants from Italy who settled to ranch in Madera
County. She grew up on the farm, attending Madera Schools and graduating
from Madera High School in 1939.
Angelina married Luther Fuller, operator of Fuller's
Garage, in 1941. When Luther was drafted into the Army, Angelina was one
of the first women in Madera to follow her soldier to training camps in
San Antonio and Abilene, Texas. When the unit was sent to the Pacific,
she came back to Madera with baby daughter Janice. During WWII, Angelina
was the first female checker at Safeway Store, taking a position left
open by men leaving for the war.
Angelina was an active member of VFW auxiliary and
maintained a special connection with the WWII veterans, having lost two
brothers in the war. She was very involved in her children's activities
at St. Joachim's School and served many times as room mother along with
Blue Bird and Cub Scouts leader. Later in life, Angelina began writing
stories of her Italian family and farm life, the depression, WWII, and
the experiences of her paratrooper (82 Airborne) brother and his
colleagues. Angelina was considered to be an historian of Madera. "She
helps keep part of the city's history alive" was a highlighted article
about her in the Tribune. She assisted Michael Hinton at Madera High
with his Greatest Generation series on Madera veterans. She also had
many stories published in the Madera Tribune.
Angelina lived in Madera most of her life, with her
husband Luther Fuller until his death in 1996. She was preceded in death
by Luther, her parents, her brothers (John, Anthony, Vince and Louie),
and her son Ronald. She is survived by her daughter Janice Fuller Wrobel
of Pleasant Hill, Ca, granddaughter Jenna Wrobel of Walnut Creek, Ca,
grandson Zachary Wrobel, and his wife Julia, and great-grandson Roman
Wrobel of Los Angeles, Ca. She is also survived by her sister Margaret
Tesei and her husband Lawrence of Madera, Ca, brother Angelo Spera of
Calistoga, Ca, and sister Kathryn Vilhauer of West Sacramento, Ca, and
many nieces and nephews that she dearly loved.
Funeral Mass will be on Monday, October 12, 2015 at
11 AM at St. Joachim Catholic Church. Private family Entombment services
will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Madera.
Remembrances, please consider the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Post 1981, 2026 North Granada Drive, Madera, Ca. 93637 and the
Madera Historical Society, P.O. Box 150, Madera, Ca. 93639 in lieu of
flowers. |
