1939
My parents named their first child Angela. She died at the age of 15 months.1 After my mother had two more children, Olie and Paul, I was born and my parents named me Angela.
My mother’s sister, Aunt Polly, suggested my mother change my name or she would lose me as she had her first child, because “angels” belong in heaven. My mother believed it was possible, especially because I was such a sick child. Or perhaps she just didn’t want to take any chances. So, she started calling me Nellie. I disliked the name when I grew older, especially since I personally knew two cows named Nellie. But believing it was my birth name I didn’t think I had any choice but to accept it.
In 1939 I accidentally discovered my name was Angela. My mother, Doug, and I were on the balcony of the apartment I shared with my mother at Dupont and Markham Streets one evening when we heard a woman across the road calling her dog, “Nellie, Nellie.” I asked my mother why she gave me that name. After she explained her reason, I was relieved and told the story to family and friends. Many people were happy to call me Angela. Some had more trouble than others. It took time but eventually most everybody became used to my “new” name. I’m still grateful to the owner of Nellie the dog.2
Next Chapter: Pasquale D'Angelo
1 The Bobowsky family bible records the birth of two daughters named Aniela: the first on August 15, 1909; and the second on October 1, 1914. The first Aniela died on August 1, 1910. Aniela is the Polish and Ukrainian spelling of Angela. Return
2 Angela also changed her surname from Bobowsky to Bobbs, and, when she married, from Bobbs to Harrison. So, she was born Aniela Bobowsky but known variously through her life as Angela Bobowsky, Nellie Bobowsky, Nellie Bobbs, Angela Bobbs, Nellie Harrison, and Angela Harrison! Return