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In Loving Memory of
"Nonnina Marta"
My Grandmother, Marta D'Amico, (Nonnina Marta as we called her) was born November 21, 1908, over 96 1/2 years ago. Halves count when you are telling the age of babies and the very elderly. She was the 6th child and her parents were both 47 when she was born. She was 16 years younger than her oldest sister and she has a niece who is currently 94. My Grandmother told us so many stories of her life. She was in the United States for 3 years at the age of 8 to 11. She attended 9 years of school. She went to first, second and third grade in Italy; then her parents lived and worked in the US for 3 years. So she attended first, second and third grade in Wilmington, DE. When she returned to Italy, the teachers put her back into first grade, and she attended first, second and third grade again in Italy… then she quit school because she was 14 years old and still in 3rd grade. Back then, you couldn't test your way into the right class. She always spoke to us in Italian, but don't be fooled. She understood, spoke and even read in English. I remember that she would call local banks and ask them for their current interest rates on 6, 12 and 18 month CDs. She was an avid reader. She read the Italian magazines and newspapers everyday. She continued to do word searches in English until a couple of months ago. She and Marissa would work together on word searches…. They were at the same speed, an eight year old and a 96 year old. When her parents were in the US, they worked for A.I. DuPont. Her Father was the head gardener for the DuPont's personal estate. Her parents worked in the US to make money to bring all their children to the US. Since my Grandmother was the youngest, they brought her back to Italy once they had established their other children in the US. In 1955, she and her husband and 2 daughters immigrated to the United States. She tells the story of when she was 8 and the ship docked in the New York harbor. She was detained because there was a rich American couple with no children who wanted to buy her from her supposed parents. The people at the port couldn't believe that she was the child of her parents, because her parents were so old. She was tested and asked to identify her parents behind a glass window. They were hoping she would slip up. Her parents were so distraught at this. They did not want to sell their youngest daughter. Finally, her Father saw an Italian attorney that worked for the DuPonts also and he intervened to get the people at the port to release my Grandmother to her parents. Her Mother took her by the hand and never looked back once she was released. During WWII, she and her family were refugees. They walked and walked to get away from the war front. They lived in caves in the mountains thinking that would be safe. She stole potatoes in order to feed her family. She taught a woman how to make wool sweaters during the months they were in exile in return for some food for her family. When the war ended, they walked home… it took 2 weeks of walking to get back to their home. They unknowingly walked through mine fields. In one instance, they met some American soldiers walking in the opposite direction. They talked to them for a little and then proceeded. As the two parties went their separate ways, there was an explosion. The soldiers were killed when they set off a mine in the field my family had just traversed. She told us how she used to do the laundry in the nearby stream when she was a young lady. Running water in the home was not available yet in her town. Just as it is hard for us to comprehend how you would do laundry (especially sheets) in the stream, it was equally hard for her to understand anything related to the computer…. And how we can't live without one now. My Grandmother enjoyed seeing her friends and family. She especially enjoyed her Great Granddaughters, Marissa and Adelina. She would play ball with them in the house using a beach ball. She loved seeing the kids run and laugh and act silly. She truly forgot about any pain that she had when she was with the kids. She didn't want to wear a hearing aid when it was diagnosed that she really needed one, because she didn't want to look old…. she was 89 or so at the time. She bought the smallest, most expensive hearing aid so that no one would be able to see it in her ear. She enjoyed her 4 regular outings: Mass, The Doctor's Office, The Hairdresser, and The Casino. She conceded to using a wheelchair a few years ago when she realized that if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to go to the casinos anymore. I could go on and on because there is over 96 years of material. We will truly miss Marta D'Amico. She was a wonderful Mother, the best Grandmother, and a fun Great Grandmother. We will never forget her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marta (Silvestri) D'Amico
D'AMICO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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