A Talk With Nonna

A Talk with Nonna

Nonna is my Italian great-grandmother, Catherine. She is 92 years old. The purpose of this interview is to examine her life.

What is your favorite memory?

My favorite memory is of Italy, my hometown. I remember the ocean, hills, and church. I remember the people, my godmother and friends.

What made Italy so special?

It was my country; to me it is the best most beautiful country in the world. The language is beautiful and sounds like music.

What was your relationship like with your parents?

I don't remember my father; he died of a heart attack at age fifty-five when I was four. I do know; however what people told me, I was told he was kind and generous and known all over town. He was proud of my brother and I, and everyone in town knew.

I don't remember my mother because after my father died she took my brother with her to America and she never came back. Finally I was told she got married and died there during childbirth.

What was your relationship with other members of your family?

When my mother left I decided to live with a woman who cared for my mother. I loved her like a grandmother, so I called her grandmother. I wouldn't live with my uncle no matter what.

When and why did you come to America?

I came to America when I was fourteen. I came to get my brother and bring him back to Italy.

What was it like on the ship coming to America?

It is one of my worst memories. I didn't expect the trip to take so long, but it took fifteen days. The weather was terrible and the waves were choppy and they tossed the ship. I remember how much my grandmother cried and how sick she got. I also helped take care of other sick people on the ship, bringing them food and things they needed.

When we got to New York we did not stop because there was an epidemic on board the ship. Then we got to Philadelphia.

Where did you live when you first came to America?

I lived with my grandmother's son and his wife Caroline. I hated it and so did my grandmother. Caroline mistreated my grandmother.

When I was sixteen I went to my uncle and told him I had rented an apartment and I was going to live with my grandmother. He gave me permission to leave because he knew it was better for his mother.

How did you support yourself and your grandmother?

I got working papers that allowed me to leave school. Then I got a job making men's clothing. I worked full time at sewing machines and button machines.

Now I'm going to ask about things that you liked as a teenager. What kinds of things did you do with your friends?

I would go to the movies with my friends. Then afterwards we could act out the movie.

What kind of music did you listen to? Who were your favorite singers?

The music I listened to was played on a phonograph. I listened to singers like Rudy Vallee, Caruso, and in Italy I listened to Gallicurcci. Some of my favorite songs were "Over There," "King for a Day," "Baby Face," and "My Blue Heaven."

What were movies like? What were some of your favorite movies? Who were some of your favorite movie stars?

Movies were silent, until the movie The Jazz Singer. I could go to the movies for ten or thirty cents depending on the time of day. My favorite movies were Seventh Heaven and Mother Knows Best. I liked actors and actresses like Ethel Barrymore, Anita Lewis, Lilian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Mary Ester, John Barrymore, and Rudolph Valentino.

What were the styles in clothing?

At first dresses and skirts were long, then hems were brought up to the knee. I wore hats called cloches; they were close fitting hats.

Sometimes I made my own clothes. I used ideas from movies, I saw. I'd also make shoes and purses with velvet and tassels.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I loved the movies. I could act out my favorite movies and my friends encouraged me to be an actress. My friend Eva and cousin Josy mailed my picture to an acting agency.

The company asked me for an interview. I was so excited, I went shopping for the interview. When my family found out they did not allow me to go because they did not consider it a proper job, so I never became an actress.

What personal concerns or worries did you have as a teenager?

I worried about my brother because he would come home late from work and then met with his friends. I worried about my grandmother when we were living with her son and wife Caroline. During World War II people I knew had relatives dying and there was crying and sadness.

Was life better then? In what way is it better now?

Life was better back in Italy. People would look after one another. Everyday was like a holiday. Now there is nothing I have to worry about.

What advice do you have for young people?

Grow up thinking good thoughts and it will show outside as well as inside.