Costumer Assumpta Mary 'Sue' Sena Diesel, was 98

IT'S HARD to imagine the kind of poverty many immigrant families endured when they arrived in this country in the early 20th century.

Assumpta Mary Sena told how the kids in her family would wrap a brick in cloth and pretend it was a doll, because there was no money for dolls or other frivolous playthings.

But from that beginning, Sue Sena, as she was called by family and friends, who came at the age of 2 with her family from Calabria, Italy, became a ballet dancer and later a costumer who dressed a number of famous opera singers performing at the Academy of Music.

Sue Sena, who became Sue Diesel after her marriage to the late Albert F. Diesel in 1952, a devoted family woman who cherished her 50-plus nieces and nephews, died of congestive heart failure Thursday at age 98. She was living in St. Joseph's Manor, in Meadowbrook, Montgomery County, but previously lived in Cheltenham.

When Sue and her parents, Guiseppe and Filomena Sena, arrived in this country in 1913, they settled in East Germantown. She attended Our Lady of the Rosary Parochial School.

She studied ballet with her older brother, William Sena, dance teacher and choreographer for the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Ballet.

She danced in many opera productions at the Academy of Music and throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada on tour.

During World War II, Sue and the other dancers would perform for the USO and at veterans' hospitals.

"She would hold the hands of the wounded veterans, show them the costumes and dance for them, to uplift their spirits," said her nephew, Gerard Sena, William Sena's son.

After her dance career ended, Sue went to work for Brooks-Van Horn, the famous costumer, in New York City. Among the famous opera singers she dressed was Beverly Sills.

"She was very upset when Beverly Sills died [in 2007]," her nephew said. "She remembered her as a young and beautiful woman. She made the costumes for her when she made her debut in 'Carmen' at the Academy of Music in 1947."

She told how Sills' husband, Peter Greenough, once said to Sue, "Make sure that fits right. My wife is a beautiful woman."

Sue not only made the costumes for the singers, she went to the performances, the measuring tape around her shoulders, pins in hand, to help them with costume changes. Among other singers she dressed was Joan Sutherland.

"She would get up at 4 in the morning and take the 6 o'clock train to New York every day," her nephew said.

While with Brooks-Van Horn, she also helped make costumes for the "Godfather" movies.

When Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, marries Kay Adams, played by Diane Keaton, the bride is carrying an Italian wedding purse, which Sue Diesel made.

After leaving Brooks-Van Horn, she joined Pierre's Costumes, on Walnut Street, working into her early 80s. But when the company moved to Cherry Hill, Sue, who always used public transportation, didn't want to cross the river. She retired at 82.

"After that, she devoted herself to her family," Gerard said. "She offered nurturance and support to us all throughout our lives and was considered the family matriarch. She considered this the most important function of her life."

Her husband was a native of Germany and during World War II he was paid a visit by the FBI.

"They wanted to find out what kind of books he read," Gerard Sena said. "They turned out to be mostly Perry Mason mysteries. He had left Germany long before the Nazis took over."

Her husband died in 1965. They had no children, and she is survived by her nieces and nephews.

Services: 10 a.m. today at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 100 Old Soldiers Road, Cheltenham, 19012. Friends may call at 9 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.