Sons and Daughters of Italy– Osceola Lodge #2523
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Supporting Sons and Daughters of Italy Means Supporting your community
Founded in 1982 by dedicated community members responding to the needs of the homeless, the Sons and Daughters of Italy – Osceola has grown into a thriving nonprofit that proudly serves hundreds each year.
Chartered as Lodge # 2523 on June 27, 1982, in the Kissimmee/St. Cloud area, the organization operates under the guidance of the Grand Lodge of Florida, established in Tampa in 1953.
This local chapter is part of the broader legacy of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, a national fraternal organization founded by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro on June 22, 1905, in New York’s Little Italy.
As the national order marks its 120th anniversary, the Osceola lodge continues to embody its founding mission of service, heritage, and community uplift.
I joined the Osceola Lodge in September of 2014. I joined because I wanted to both learn and share about my Italian Heritage. I enjoy working with our members to give back to our communities of St Cloud and Kissimmee.
Helen has been a devoted member of Osceola Lodge #2523 since 2000, inspired by her proud Italian father to carry on the family’s heritage. She enjoys the lodge’s activities, dinners, and fundraisers, and though she gave up roller skating at age 70, she continues to celebrate her Italian roots with the community she treasures.
Gertrude has been a proud member of Osceola Lodge #2523 since 2005, where she has cherished serving as Recording Secretary and President while giving back to the community she loves. She finds joy in traveling, dancing, and spending time with her husband of 58 years, along with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Joe has been a member of Osceola Lodge #2523 for over two years and treasures the friendships, shared experiences, and charity work that make the lodge feel like family. A music buff who collects guitars, he enjoys car racing, fishing, baseball, and apple pie, while continuing to support the Italian-American community and keep traditions alive.
A proud member of Osceola Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge #2523 since 2016, she grew up in the Sons of Italy, inspired by her parents and grandparents who were charter members in New York. She treasures honoring her heritage through volunteering, gardening, and family traditions, and holds dear the memory of the lodge celebrating her mother’s 50 years of service.
Joe has been a member of Osceola Lodge #2523 for three years and enjoys the many lodge events, from Night at the Races to Designer Bag Bingo and singing Christmas carols for nursing home residents. Passionate about service, he keeps busy volunteering for multiple parishes in both New York and Florida while celebrating his Italian roots and heritage.
Marilyn has been a member of Osceola Lodge #2523 since 2021, transferring from Palm Bay Lodge where she had been active since 2009. She treasures events like Night at the Races, loves spending time with her granddaughter, and carries forward the joy of growing up in a large Italian family with rich traditions.
Ellen has been a member of Osceola Lodge #2523 for about five years and loves being surrounded by fellow Italians who share a passion for food, culture, and tradition. She enjoys the Night at the Races events, treasures her Italian roots in Sicily, and finds joy in reading and cooking her favorite dishes like eggplant parmigiana and her homemade meatballs.