Here is a picture of my Mom and Dad, Concetta and Rosario. Two people who defied everyone and eloped to Coney Island to get married. lol lol lol now I know where Eve and I got our defience from. In those days parents selected who you would marry, and Mom was no exception. Her father picked a weathy man, she married a truck driver. She never regreted it either, they loved each other, and when she died, I can honestly say Dad grieved for her for twenty years before he joined her. In all that time, he never took off that black tie. Every Sunday he would buy the Sunday paper, take a train to queens and go to St. Johns Cemetary, just to sit with Mom, care for the flowers he planted, and read the paper. It was a ritual that he only broke when he moved to Long Island with us. It's hard to explain how for twenty years he never stopped loving her, I wish more marriages were that way today. I know mine is. I learned from what I grew up with, and what I saw. I know my marriage is forever, and so was my sister Eves, even though her husband passed away, she remains single to this day.
I will try to tell you a little something about me. I am also including some pictures of me as a child, and the oldest picture I own, of a family long gone, there is one left My Aunt Josie. My days spent with this family, were happy days. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, all kept the holidays in the old way, food, laughter, the italian language, a family that was full of children, there was 14 grandchildren while I was growing up. Holidays were spent at Nonna Vitas. Christmas eve would find us sleeping like venetian blind slats, lol sideways in a great big bed. The men played cards, the women cooked. Nonnas holiday sauce was garnished with toasted crushed almonds and grated motzerella. Honey Balls, Spinges, Bow Ties, Penulattas, the list is endless. Everywhere you looked held covered bowls of the most fantastic things you ever ate. Day's long gone by, but never ever forgotten. Most of us try to keep that heritage going today. I know I do. My family is Irish and Italian now, but, holidays are strictly Sicilian, and my girls will hopefuly never let that heritage die.
I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. My parents were strict old fashioned Sicilians. Dad was the King of his castle, and Mom ruled the King, the castle, and the serfs. Her wooden spoon lovingly stirred the sauce, and when needed, it was her insurance that her children would not step out of line.
Believe me we rarely did, my sister and I did not believe in testing her limits to often, because she would have made good on her threats. We came late in their lives, so by this time they ran out of patience. We had a good life, with lots of traditions.
I went to Catholic School. St. Josephs on Suydam St. lol Little Italy in Brooklyn. This school sat upstairs from the church. Every morning we went to mass before school, and you better have known how to duck, if you were ever late for it. Sister Vincent Joseph rang that big brass bell from the top of the stairs, she was the meanest looking Nun you ever saw in your life, but a sweetheart. On Saturdays I used to go to the Convent up the block from the Church, to help Sister Monica. We changed the alter cloths, put out freash flowers, changed the candles, and polished everything until it gleamed. Moving left to right across the front of the alter, and never ever daring to forget to genuflect each time we passed the tabernacle. It was a time in my life, when religion was very important. My mother and her sister Dora were very religious. Every Sunday was Mass, every Monday was the Novena to the Blessed Virgin, and every Saturday was confession. That was the time when no one questioned the church, no one used birth control, and when a women went to Mass her head was covered. Respect was shown in the house of God, and it was a whole different world then it is today.
Religious Instructions were taken at a young age,
for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. My parents beamed on those days. Once I got through my religious instructions, the nuns revolted. We were sent to Public School.
Since I was not born to enter a convent, my Mom started teaching me how to cook and take care of a home.
I learned the basics from school, and according to Mom, her teachings were more important for a girl to learn.
Believe me, I balked, but she won. lol lol lol No one in our family argued with the lady that held the spoon.
As children, my sister Eve and I were dressed identical. We were only 17 months apart, and Mom made all our dress's. She worked for a long time as a seamstrss to a designer for Handcraft Clothing in N.Y.C. Very talented lady our Mom.
This is my one shot at an angelic picture.
Once I left catholic school, I became a normal teenager. Ice Cream Parlors were my second home. Friends, Juke Box, a whole new world. I loved it.
By this time in my life we moved to Eldert St. and a new parish. We now belonged to St. Martin of Tours Church, on Weirfield St. and Knickerbocker Ave. The church I was eventually married in.
The church was not only for mass. We had confraternity too. A place where all your friends gathered under the eyes of the priests & nuns. It was great fun, because everyone you knew was there. At this time I was attending JHS 162, and then on to Bushwick High School. The best times of my life were spent in school. There were no school buses, you either walked or took public transportation. The teachers were strict, and your parents backed them up 100%. The cops on the beat, would see a kid walking around, and if it was during school hours, you were brought home, or to the school. Those were the days when people in authority,
held sway over any kid in Brooklyn. You just did'nt cross any of them. It was like they all had eyes in back of their heads, lol you knew it, and they made sure you did'nt forget it. I don't know which was worce, punishment from any of them, or the punishment I got afterwards, either way, it was not worth geting in trouble.
I am going to add all their names, lol lol a mouthfull let me tell you.
Starting with Mom top left, Concetta, Vinchenzo,(the only boy) Dorothea, Annunziata, Nona Vita, Josephina, Geochino, holding Franchesca.
I finally added a lovely picture of Nonna and Grandpa. Just look at those faces, and see the love that lasted for so many years. May we all be so lucky.
Today our family lost the nicest, and most caring woman in the family. This loving lady never complained. Raised a beautiful family and was very close to God. She led a very full life.
Today He decided to take her to be with the rest of her family. She will be missed by all of us that loved her. In my minds eye, I can picture her when she heard something sad, holding her hands on her cheeks, shaking her head, and murmuring "Beda Madre."
Rest in Peace Aurn Dora, and may your soul and all the souls of the Faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen
Before God deceided to take Mom to help run his Kingdom, she passed on her recipes, and her family traditions to me and my sister.
Over the years we have tried to keep traditions going.
Thank You Mom! My family thanks you even more. All your italian traditions live on. Passed from You to me, then from me to the girls.
I know they will continue for years and years. (they did'nt want the wooden spoon though)
This Background set was made by me. Grapes sort of fit the italian family so well.
The set graphics were made in Paint Shop Pro.
 |
