JCCIA
Women's Division
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JCCIA Women's Division Leadership
ROSE MARY RANALLO
JCCIA Women's Division President
Memberships
JCCIA Women's Division
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A bit about Rose Mary
Rose Mary Ranallo is the chief financial officer and manager of her family businesses, NS Builders and Arno Decorating. Rose Mary is the current President of the JCCIA Women’s Division since 2008 and has served as a committee member for the Columbus Day Queen contest and The JCCIA Women’s Division Impresa Award Luncheon. Additionally, Rose Mary has also held the position of treasurer of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans Women's Division, and has chaired the Women's division Italian Heritage Ball and Cotillion as well as its Scholarship Benefit Dinner and Fashion Show. Rose Mary was awarded The Spirit of St. Daniel Camboni Award and the Adam Knoerr Community Spirit Award for her dedication to the community. Additionally, her incredible work in raising funds at the Casino Night Fundraiser for the Neoblastoma Cancer Foundation is much appreciated.
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Rose Mary is married to Guy and the mother of three children Natalie, Guy Anthony, and Nat, and two grandchildren.
PHYLLIS SCHOENE
First Vice President
Memberships
Member Women's Division since 1968
Past President Women's Division
Past Fashion Show & Cotillion Chairman
Past President, Auxiliary of Good Samaritan Hospital
Member of the Executive Committee, Glen Ellyn Woman's Club
Chairman of the Impresa Award since 1993
A bit about Phyllis
At the age of 18, Phyllis attended a JCCIA "Man of the Year" dinner for Peter Scalise. She was so impressed with the event that she knew she wanted the JCCIA to be part of her life. In 1968, she became a member of the Women’s Division and has made it a huge part of her life.
Phyllis attended the University of Illinois at Navy Pier. Besides her dedication to the JCCIA, Women's Division, and the community at large, she was the business manager for the family-owned business Bardach-Schoene Prosthetic Lab.
She is the widow of Harold Schoene and the mother of Justine Gastrow and John and the proud grandmother of Gianna, Francesca, Giancarlo, and Gatelle.
CARMELA CAPRIATI
Second Vice President
Memberships
Secretary of Maria S.S. del Carmine di Noicattaro (Bari, Italy)
Member of Maria S.S. della Croce di Triggiano (Bari, Italy)
Chairman of the Scholarship and Fashion Show for over 10 years
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A bit about Carmela
As the eldest of 3 sisters, Carmela grew up in a traditional Italian family. Since her early childhood, her appreciation for the rich Italian culture, language, and traditions, have made a positive impact throughout her adult life. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, she is a teacher of Italian, French and Business at Carmel High School in Mundelein. She has been involved as Secretary of Maria S.S. del Carmine di Noicattaro, member of the Maria S.S. della Croce di Triggiano, and honored with the prestigious Mother Cabrini Award for her dedication to community and church. Married for over 4 decades to Pasquale (Pat) Capriati, the couple are the proud parents of Rosanna and Costantina, and proud grandparents to Alessia, Christian and Rocco J.P. Carmela is the 2nd Vice President and Chairman of the Scholarship and Fashion Show of the JCCIA Women’s Division for over 10 years. In 1987, Carmela and her sister Teresa, opened Monalisa Boutique in Evanston, and later moved to Addison, where it thrives today.
JUDITH GUZALDO
Treasurer
Memberships
Member JCCIA Women's Division since 1968
Past President JCCIA Women's Division
Past Fashion Show and Cotillion Chairman
Co-Chairman Impresa Award since 1993
President of the Norridge Park Board 2017-2019
Officially elected to six terms on the Norridge Park Board
Past Secretary of the Board of Norridge Youth Activity
Currently Secretary of the Norridge Park Board
Currently Treasurer of the Women's Division of the JCCIA
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A bit about Judith
Judy has not only been a dedicated member of the Women's Division of the Joint Civic
Committee of Italian Americans but she has played an instrumental role in the community at large.
Judy worked in retail for 28 years. Up until recently she was the supervisor of customer service at Best Buy in Norridge.
She is married to her wonderful husband Michael and the Mother of four sons. Philip, Robert, Vincent and Michael. And the proud grandmother of 10.
ARLENE ELIA
Secretary
Memberships
JCCIA,Women’s Division Fashion Show Committee
Cotillion Committee
Scholarship Committee
Past Secretary JCCIA Parent Organization
Presently Secretary JCCIA, Women’s Division
A bit about Arlene
Arlene has been a JCCIA office volunteer for over 10 years. As a volunteer, she has been involved in planning countless activities. Most notable she has been instrumental in preparing the parade script for Channel 7 and the many activities in the orchestration of the Columbus Day Parade.
In addition, she has been very active in volunteering in her community. For numerous years she has been an advocate for the homeless by her association with “Pads” and “Pharma” providing sleeping pads for the homeless. She is a member of St. Peter the Apostle Church and Seniors Club in Itasca, Illinois.
Arlene was employed by Thermo Fisher Scientific Company for 19 years, a worldwide distribution company of scientific, education, and manufactured products used in the health industry, universities, schools, and research, etc. At Thermo Fisher, she was the Executive Assistant to the North American Vice President and worked with other regional executive assistances.
Arlene is the recent widow of John J. Elia. Mother of Teresa Ann Dragonetti, John Joseph, Jr., and Christopher Elia. Grandmother of – Nicole, Andrew, Kristen, Marissa, Christopher Jr., and Thomas.
GINA ACINO SCALFANI
Corresponding Secretary
Memberships
Past President Women’s Division
Past Chairperson of the Italian Heritage Ball and Cotillion
Past Chairperson of the Annual Scholarship Fashion Show
Officer of the Women’s Division for decades
Member of the Impresa Awards
Member of Elk Grove Village/Termini Imerese Sister Cities
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A bit about Gina
Gina Acino Sclafani emigrated to America from Termini Imerese, Sicily, when she was twelve years old, along with her parents Giuseppina and Nicasio Acino, and her three siblings. She married the love of her life and teenage sweetheart, Natale Sclafani in 1958. Together they settled in Elk Grove Village and parented three daughters: Rose Mary, Josephine, and Lisa. They have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Gina Sclafani has been a member of the Women’s Division of the JCCIA since 1980.
Over the years, she has held the following positions, volunteering her time for the betterment of the Italian American community: Past President Women’s Division, Past Chairperson of the Italian Heritage Ball and Cotillion, Past Chairperson of the Annual Scholarship Fashion Show, Officer of the Women’s Division for decades, Member of the Impresa Awards and Member of Elk Grove Village/Termini Imerese Sister Cities.
Whenever there is need, Gina can be relied on to lend a helping hand. She has instilled this value in her family as well. Currently, her daughter Rose Mary Sclafani Ranallo is the President of the Women’s Division of the JCCIA, a position which she has held for the last 12 years.
LILIA LEONARDI JUAREZ
Advisor
Memberships
JCCIA Women's Division Past President
Past Chairperson-Italian Heritage Ball and Cotillion
Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club-Treasurer
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A bit about Lilia
Lilia Leonardi Juarez is the current Advisor to the Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. Prior to this position, she was the immediate past president of the JCCIA Women’s Division and the past president of the West Suburban Division of the JCCIA. Presently she is the treasurer of the Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club and this summer will be the 2021 Woman of the year for the Lucchesi Nel Mondo Club.
Before these positions, Lilia was a past president of the Maroons Ladies Club and an elected official on the School Board for four years in Oak Brook Illinois District 53 where her three sons attended school. Since one son attended the University of Illinois in Champaign she became a vice president in the Mother’s Club at the University.
Lilia attended Providence High School, graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor's degree in Education, and received a Master’s degree from Governor State University in Bilingual Education. She retired in 2007 from the Chicago Board of Education after 42 years of service with the last 14 years as Assistant Principal at Pickard School.
