NeedlePoint Crosses

The Hope-Filled Life of Linda Oliva

story by ANNE BLANCHETTE         photos by CHARLOTTE BERKELEY

Have you met the woman who hands out needlepoint crosses in Beaufort? Linda Rotunno Oliva, a resident of Beaufort for over five years, has an incredible life story woven through 95 years of history. You would know if you crossed her path because she most assuredly would have greeted you with a smile while handing you a stitch of hope. This gift she shares comes as a needlepoint cross; within it is a special message she calls her purpose. Like the needle weaving through the fabric of these intricate crosses, there is an inner strength deeply woven through Linda, as we can see through her story. While her noble beginnings were anything but easy, she would continue to persevere. It was her strong, resilient spirit that never gave up. There is something special about this woman; we can see it through her story of hope in the darkest places. America had come to the end of what is known as the “Roaring Twenties,” and the stock market crash ushered in a worldwide financial crisis. Italy was not spared from this crisis, which only compounded the harsh conditions left behind by WWI.

Amid the world in turmoil, Carmelinda Rotunno was born on January 6, 1929, in Naples, Italy. The formative years for Carmelinda were some of the loneliest and darkest of her life. While her father was absent, the unfortunate events that unfolded kept her separated from her mother as well. Carmelinda, among many other children in Italy, was placed in a hospital due to the tuberculosis epidemic. She remained healthy after losing two siblings, baffling the doctors. If you ask Linda, she will say it is because she has a good immune system. Maybe that is true; after all, she has lived through several pandemics. This time in the hospital was not the only separation from her mother that Carmelinda would experience. As these times made it difficult for women to care for their children, many mothers heartbreakingly placed their children in orphanages. Times were burdensome, and families were split apart. Carmelinda was placed in a girls’ home, while her brothers were placed in a boys’ orphanage. Scared and alone, Carmelinda grew up with very few pleasant memories. It would be many years before Carmelinda would be reunited with her family, and when she was, she barely recognized them after all the time apart. Separation was a theme throughout Carmelinda’s life, and it kept her longing for family and love. However, even in her great sorrow and loneliness yearning for family, she endured.

Amid World War II, which had begun in 1939, Italy was under the rule of Benito Mussolini. During this period were some of history’s darkest and most wicked times. Carmelinda found herself right in the middle as a young girl in Napoli. Although reuniting with her family was wonderful, Italy’s times were grueling during the war. Linda vividly shared what she had seen from her rooftop apartment in Naples all those years ago. Etched in her mind, she recalled overlooking the city; from her vantage point, this otherwise perfect view was anything but perfect. Surrounded by danger nestled above the city, Mount Vesuvius to the left, and bomb-filled aircraft heading straight ahead, this was terrifying, to say the least. She was literally surrounded by danger. Her family reunion was short-lived as her older brother joined the Italian Air Force and was sent to England to fight. “This must have been the hand of God,” she professes today, smiling as she recalls her brother and his whole troop surrendering with no shoes, food, or artillery. He was safely placed in an English military prison for the remainder of the war. Looking back at this, Linda was grateful for the hand of God that protected her brother and kept her family intact. Despite this, the war had not ceased for her family, who remained in the hillside apartment in Napoli. A barrage of bombs brought desolation to the city below, with one particular bomb landing on top of a large gas tank next door to her apartment. What should have been a devastating explosion, and one that would have taken her life and her family, was merely a dud. As she looks back today, she believes this, too, was the hand of God sheltering her from that explosion. There is always light somewhere shining in the darkest moments, and it may not be until we look through the rear-view mirror that we see it. Linda sees it today, and it is part of her purpose as she shares these hopeful reminders in the tiny little pocket crosses.

While WWII ended in 1945, the struggles for Carmelinda and her family continued. Before Germany abandoned Italy, they seized many young Italian men, fearing they could rise against them. Having courage in the face of fear is not something someone can plan for, but it is pivotal in and through some of the most terrifying moments. Carmelinda recalls facing her fear as she hid her brother from the Nazi soldiers. Like her other brother, he was also safe and unharmed, which Linda expresses even more gratitude for today. Germany took every provision upon leaving Italy, generating severe destitution. The Rotunno family, being resourceful, found ways to survive, one of which came on rainy days. Linda recalled when her mother excitedly replied, “It is raining. We can eat tonight.” This was because snails came out in the rain, and they had food to eat on rainy days. Sometimes blessings come through the rain!

Nevertheless, on days when meals were scarce, desperation would set in. Carmelinda’s brother began to rummage for food in the garbage behind the American GI station, which was now situated across the street from their apartment. After one GI took pity on Carmelinda’s brother, providing him and his family with food, Carmelinda saw hope on the horizon. This was Joseph Oliva, “GI Joe,” as Linda calls him, her future husband.

Married with a new beginning right before her, Carmelinda looked with the promise of better days ahead. After Carmelinda’s first son was born, she would make that first trip to America. She boarded Saturnia, the ship she voyaged to the States. Doing the unthinkable, this young woman, a new mother, wore pants. This was unthought of for a young lady back then, but persistent Carmelinda knew this would be the only way she would travel and convinced her mom to help her make these pants out of an army blanket. The destination was Boston, and this would be where Carmelinda Oliva became a U.S. citizen. On December 18, 1950, standing before the judge officially announcing her citizenship and shortening her name to Linda, she complied. In her eyes, a shorter name was simpler, Linda Oliva; that name just rolled off the tongue. In everything she did, she never sweated the small stuff while resolutely facing every challenge that came her way. A married mother and now citizen of the United States of America, Linda could finally settle in. She did just that! As they planted roots in Massachusetts, their family grew. She was truly blessed, and it seemed the trials of the past were long gone. Yet, she would face another loss and a great challenge down the road. When Linda was in her forties, her husband died, leaving her widowed, becoming the sole parent to her six children. Difficult as this was, Linda faced it with resiliency like every situation she had ever experienced. She would come to open her own Luncheon in Avon, Massachusetts, waking up very early and serving breakfast and lunch while raising her children. Being the sole provider was only possible with these two things: grit and hard work, both of which seemed to be part of her DNA. Throughout those years, Linda looked to the future with hopeful eyes.

Ready for a change, Linda moved South to Hilton Head, Beaufort’s neighbor. Resourceful as ever, she was able to make a living buying and selling houses, which proved advantageous and financially fruitful. Incredibly adventurous in her sixties, she bought a sailboat, learned how to sail, and sailed down to the Bahamas with a friend. She bravely set foot on the unknown seas with only a map to guide her and, at times, the darkest skies above her as her only light. Even the stormy gale that met her on the waters one evening was not too much for her to navigate. She has learned always to keep moving, never give up, even in the darkness, and always keep her sights fixed on the horizon. One could say that a life of trials, such as Linda experienced, prepared her for this trip. Today, Linda knows that all she endured throughout her life gave her the courage to set sail on the seas and the ability to persevere and navigate a life that was never easy.

Linda ventured here to Beaufort, where she would face her biggest trial, fighting for her life. Her spine was deteriorated, and to help with the pain, Linda would wear a stimulator to send impulses, alleviating her discomfort. When the stimulator needed a new battery, surgery was required. A severe infection developed after this surgery, and Linda was in the ultimate fight for her life. She was given only two weeks to live. While this was unacceptable to this woman who never gave up, she was at a loss. Linda recalls a cross in faint view outside of her hospital room window. This cross captured her attention and rooted itself in her heart. She reminisces on this moment and believes that cross was her hope. With an unwillingness to give up, she simply trusted God. After finding a second opinion and another doctor willing to help, by the grace of God, Linda was healed. Although the infection dissipated, damage left to her spine put her in a state of paralysis. Linda was told that she would not walk again. Faith fueling her, in classical Linda Oliva fashion, she declared with bold confidence, “Watch me.” While recovery was not an easy road, she pushed through with a newfound strength and a newfound faith. This was the beginning of yet another chapter in Linda’s life, and she was not about to slow down now, especially with a purpose to share the gift of hope with others.

With the cross image etched in her mind, she found herself seeking and was led to a church where she would receive a gift, her very first Pocket Cross. That was it; she knew she could make these tiny reminders of yarn and hope. Linda felt compelled to share with others that while walking through darkness, suffering, loneliness, and loss, you are never alone. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and looking back through the rear-view mirror of her life, Linda saw the hand of God protecting her and blessing her even in the trials. She gained an understanding that we have a life to live, and while life can be hard sometimes, we have a reason to go on. There is always hope on the horizon, and through Linda’s faith today, she has found a purpose for every moment she has experienced. If Linda Oliva crosses your path with a friendly hello in that charming Italian accent, do not be surprised when she offers you a needlepoint cross, pointing you to the hope she lives by.