Jessica Dragonetti's early life was marked by frequent moves due to her father's engineering work, which took the family to various countries. Born on Valentine's Day in 1900 in Calcutta, India, she was the youngest of four siblings, including Nicholas, Fred, and Nadea, to a devout Catholic family.
Tragedy struck when Jessica was orphaned by 1909, but she persevered and dedicated herself to her studies. She attended the Philadelphia Girls Catholic High School, where she developed her musical talents under the guidance of the Sisters of Charity. Her education continued at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey, where she was invited to study with renowned teacher Estelle Liebling in New York.
Jessica's education was supported by Mother Superior, who arranged her schoolwork around her singing lessons and even granted her a leave of absence to stay in New York for extended periods. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Nicholas Turner, at a party in 1944.
After a three-year courtship, the couple married in 1947 in a private ceremony at the residence of Francis Cardinal Spellman. Jessica's focus shifted from her performing career to humanitarian and church activities, earning her numerous awards and recognition from the Pope.
