My grandmother’s laugh always had a way of transporting me to her tiny Italian village, a place I’d never been but felt I knew intimately through her stories. This week’s episode is a heartfelt homage to the power of family narratives, where Peggy, Josephine, Becky, Frank, Mirella, Ed and I share our adventures in preserving these precious legacies. They unveil their personal quests—from essays capturing the essence of our ancestors to children’s books that whisk young readers to the cobblestone streets of Italy—each story is a brushstroke on the canvas of our shared history.
As we navigate the poignant tales of our panel members, the conversation naturally weaves through the importance of capturing the wisdom of our elders before it’s too late. We touch on the technological advances that help us immortalize these stories and discuss the emotional weight of documenting family lore. The diverse methods of storytelling presented by our guests, like cookbooks sprinkled with poetry and genealogical pursuits on digital platforms, remind us all of the threads that connect us to our past and the urgency of keeping them intact.
Venturing into the individuality of Italian heritage, we feel the pulse of ancient dialects and the resilience of immigrant communities. Mirella’s family saga during World War II paints a vivid picture of survival and new beginnings, while our panelists reflect on the importance of cultural memory and the efforts to sustain it amidst changing landscapes. As our episode closes, we extend an open invitation to you, our listeners, to explore your own family tapestry, and share in the deeper conversation of who we are and where we come from.
Teddy Bianco goes to Italy Travel to Italy for kids https://amzn.to/3IISUM0
Through a Childs Eyes German bombs fell on the enchanting village of San Pietro Infine, destroying homes. https://amzn.to/3Tl0kdw
Growing Up Italian Great stories about growing up Italian in America https://amzn.to/3TCSYTY
My North End Family Stories Peggy writes about her family who settled in Boston’s Italian enclave, the North End. https://amzn.to/3x9b6Mc
Life’s Journey Based on the real-life experiences of the author’s paternal grandmother. https://amzn.to/490BYeE
Farmers and Nobles Read about my research story and how to begin your family research. https://amzn.to/3vjjSH9
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For over twenty-five years, Dawn has helped people create a dolce vita by connecting to their purpose and by continuing their legacy.
Breathing Life into Memories: Unlocking Italian Family Stories
Join us for a captivating conversation with Peggy Fucillo as we uncover the inspiration behind her book, which beautifully weaves together her Italian roots, North End upbringing, and her family’s rich immigration story. As Peggy prepares for her upcoming trip to Sicily in September, she passionately shares the importance of preserving family heritage through storytelling and encourages others to do the same. We dive into the challenges of writing personal stories, discussing the process of
Researching Ateleta Abruzzo to Philadelphia
Josephine Pasquarello discusses her families arrival to Philadelphia in the late 1800’s and her book “Life’s Journey”. Josephine is the tenth child of an immigrant Italian woman who is the heroine of this book. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother, living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She graduated from West Philly Catholic Girls’ High School in 1967. During her lifetime, she has worked in the restaurant business for 25 years, owned a house cleaning
Italian American Stories — Frank Di Piero
In my second interview with Frank Di Piero, host of “Keeping it Real with Frankie D”, we discuss his two great children’s books “My Big Family” and “Teddy Bianco Goes to Italy”. We also talk about his series called “The Italian American Moment” where he tells the stories of our unsung heroes. Frank Di Piero was born in Chicago and is 100% Italian origin. He has traveled to Italy many times and attended two study
Researching San Pietro Infine Campania — Through a Childs Eyes
Mirella Masella talks about when and why she started her research and tells the story of her family from a small village that was caught up in a major invasion in WWII. December 1943 – German bombs fell on the enchanting village of San Pietro Infine, destroying homes and ruining innocent lives in one of the most devastating conflicts in southern Italy. After the war, with change being inevitable, the village they once knew was
Researching Sicily and Molise
Visit Our Shop Bob speaks with Becky Clemente about her family roots including a very interesting story about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Here is the link to the Castiglione and Carovilli Research Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1659888864331809 Podcast Click here to join our group on Facebook Video
My Grandfather’s Fig Tree
Dr. Iannuccilli (Dr. Ed), a retired gastroenterologist, has had extensive experience in academics, management, governance and entrepreneurial endeavors. Former Chairman of the Board at Rhode Island Hospital and a former member of the Lifespan Board, he is a Clinical Professor Emeritus at The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. As a founding father of Ocean State Physicians Health Plan (United Health Care), he became the third chairman of its Board. He was the
