I left work at 2 p.m. after meeting with my supervisor, John Moriarty, the day before 9/11. I had filed for a one-week vacation to join my brother and his wife on a vacation and pilgrimage to Italy, a trip we had planned a year in advance. The Comptroller’s Department was on the 69th floor of One World Trade Center.
I remember that when I left my office that afternoon, the floor was empty, which was unusual. Before leaving, I was struggling with myself about whether I should take my breviary with me. It was a gift from my friend, Sister Consiglia Valetta, before she passed away. I prayed with it every morning before starting work. I said to myself, “I will be back after a week,” so I decided to leave it in my office. I would later deeply regret that decision.
That night, we took our flight to Rome. Upon disembarking, I noticed military personnel carrying long guns as we entered the airport. I remember thinking, “Maybe they have martial law here.”
As soon as we reached our hotel in Rome, news flashed on the television showing the World Trade Center in flames. My first thought was, “It’s a movie.” Then I received a call from my husband. He told me that the World Trade Center had been attacked and that my supervisor had called him to let me know that everyone in the Comptroller’s Department had been accounted for.
The next day in Rome, we attended an audience with the then-Pope, who later became Saint John Paul II. It was an especially sad day at the Vatican. The Pope prayed for those who had perished in the attack and for the families whose lives had been forever changed by the tragedy.
The airports were closed, and I prayed to the Lord to help us return home after we completed our pilgrimage. Thank God, the airports reopened after a week, and we were able to return to the United States as scheduled.
I stayed home and waited for a call telling me where to report for work. After a few weeks, I was instructed to report to the Port Authority Technical Center on Erie Street in Jersey City, the building used by the Port Authority Police.
We were given the police gym as a temporary workplace. We worked at long tables with computers and chairs placed side by side, with the sounds of treadmills and other gym equipment in the background.
The Port Authority later arranged a tour of the site of our former office. As soon as we entered the area, the smell was overwhelming, knowing that the remains of those who had died were beneath the ground.
There were photo cards, notes, flags, and pictures throughout the area. It was heartbreaking to know that my friends, coworkers, and supervisors were buried there and never had the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.
To this day, I continue to pray for everyone who perished and for their loved ones. They are our heroes, and they will never be forgotten.
