09 September 2010

My Italian Grandparents

My maternal grandparents who lived in Cleveland, Ohio and spoke very little English - were 100% Italian, straight from Udine, Italy. My grandfather, Federico, first came to the United States in 1921. He worked and returned to Italy and married my grandmother, Maria, in 1926. He returned to the U.S. leaving my grandmother in Italy. He continued to work in the U.S. and visit his family in Italy. When my grandmother came to the U.S. in 1930, she arrived with my aunt Lydia who was 3 years old. My grandfather became a U.S. citizen in 1929.

My favority memories of my grandparents? Nonnu trying to make us taste his homemade wine. I can still hear him ... drink, drink, its good (said with a heavy Italian accent) and Nonna always wanting us to eat ... mangiare, mangiare. These memories still make me smile. :)


My grandparents, Maria Zilli and Federico Del Zotto

1 comment:

  1. I had a Polish mother-in-law and she would try to feed us the minute we walked in the door, and if we didn't want what she put out, there was always something else.

    Great blog!

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