Minnie Marie Hoag

Minnie Marie Hoag was born on January 9, 1925, in Monessen, Pennsylvania, a small industrial town along the Monongahela River. She was the daughter of Emma Marie Assel and Robert Thomas Hoag, who provided for their growing family during a time of significant social and economic change in the United States. The 1920s were a period of industrial expansion and prosperity for many families in Monessen, driven by the region’s steel and manufacturing industries.

By the 1930 U.S. Census, five-year-old Minnie was living with her parents, her baby sister Elsie Jane Hoag, and a relative named James. James is likely her paternal uncle, James William Hoag (1894–1940), the brother of her father, Robert Thomas Hoag. The household was part of a close-knit extended family, a hallmark of life in the early 20th century. Her younger brother, Robert Thomas Hoag Jr., had not yet been born at the time of this census but would join the family in the years to come.

Family Life and Marriage
Minnie grew up during the Great Depression, a period that demanded resilience and resourcefulness from families across America. These formative years likely shaped her strength and dedication to family.

As a young woman, Minnie married Samuel Caruso, a man with whom she would share her life and build a family. Together, they had at least two children: Samuel Caruso Jr. and Paula Marie Caruso. Family remained central to Minnie’s life, and she was deeply devoted to her role as a mother, wife, and grandmother.

Later Years
In her later years, Minnie lived in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Bridgeton, known for its historic charm and vibrant agricultural community, became a fitting backdrop for Minnie’s final decades. She remained a pillar of her family, imparting lessons of love, resilience, and dedication to her children and grandchildren.

Minnie passed away on February 10, 2000, at the age of 75. Her passing marked the loss of a cherished family matriarch, but her legacy lives on through the generations that follow.

Legacy and Reflections
Minnie’s life spanned a period of immense change in American history. She was born during the Roaring Twenties, grew up during the hardships of the Great Depression, came of age during World War II, and witnessed the profound social transformations of the postwar era. Through it all, Minnie remained deeply rooted in her family, finding joy and purpose in nurturing the people she loved.

Her life is a testament to the values of family, hard work, and perseverance, and her memory is preserved in the hearts of her descendants.