ERENA RUTA SCIASCIA (ELLEN RUTH)
02-12-1892 to 12-06-1952
Ellen and her sister Emma were both born at Pencarrow lighthouse where their
father Nicola Sciascia was a lighthouse keeper. They then moved to Kawhia and
thence to Portland Island, Mahia Peninsula, where their father was killed by a
bull.
Ellen was then brought up by Hohepa Williams at Pipiriki Wanganui until she was
14, when she returned to Foxton and later married Ieni, son of Renata Te Rahui
Ropiha and Mahaarata Renata of Foxton. They lived firstly at Motuiti Foxton and
then built a family home at Koputaroa which they eventually sold to Jack
Sciascia. They moved to Porangahau about 1915 where they milked cows, ran a
cream and bus service to Waipukarau.
They moved back to Levin about 1936 and again took up milking cows and farming,
which they did until their respective deaths. Ellen was interested in Anglican
Church work, and took part in Womens Guild and Maori tribal committee work.
NOTE:
Above text has been taken from the reunion books of 1972 and 1987. However some
changes have been made due to recent research identifying some minor errors in
previously published text.
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The following has been provided by Marina Sciascia
Ellen was a very young girl when she married Ieni Tetakau Tapiana Ropiha ( in
her seventeenth year) Of her sixteen children her first and last children were
the only ones born in Ngati Raukawa. The rest at were born at Eparima (Wanstead)
and Porangahau.
Their move to Porangahau was to support Ieni's cousins as a speaker for the
Ropiha family. He was also the Karakia person and took service at their homes. A
favourite account spoken about is of the time over the food gathering season at
Blackhead. Uncle Kawe (as he was known ) would recite the appropriate karakia
before the fishermen went to harvest. Also how the whole family including the
wider families would move there during this period, staying there for some weeks
and not returning until all the containers were full. Then there would be the
dropping off around the village and Pa on the way home. The preserving and
drying was carried out by the woman. Ellen was renown for cooking skills,
filling the house with great aroma and tasty morsels for the many young children
that grew up under her wing. Both at Porangahau and at 35 Union Street in Foxton.
As was the way of that time, the older daughters left their children to be cared
for by their Mother while they went away to work.
Uncle Kawe was afflicted with gout which left Ellen to carry out much of the
labouring work that was required to farm their land. This she did in a very
vocal way and if you were helping one quickly learnt to do the job well and
quickly. She was known to have firm opinions on most things and was remembered
for her contribution to conversations. She also instilled a great pride in her
daughters towards their personal care and dress. She loved fine things and had a
care of glass and ornaments of the time. Some of those taonga are handed on
today.
Many a Sunday dinner was shared between the families as a Sunday ritual. From
church to one another's homes. We are never sure if this is a great Italian
tradition carried on or a Maori one
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