My grandmother "Nona Cenzina" passed away earlier tonight in Memphis, TN, at the age of 104. She was born in Bassignana, Italy on September 22, 1905 & was the eighth child of Luigi & Claudina Vescovo. Nona married our grandfather, Lawrence Migliara, in Italy in 1932. They were married by an American consulate at the American embassy in Genoa and honeymooned in Venice. She arrived in the USA on Christmas Day 1932.
My grandfather initially immigrated to the US in 1920 with several of his brothers and opened a grocery store in Memphis, TN. He returned home to Italy to marry Nona. They had three children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Nona had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren & two great-great-grandchildren.
Nona lived a long, full life and always had funny stories and memories she shared with us of growing up in rural Italy, in the early 20th century. Prior to her marriage, she was a seamstress who made beautiful wedding gowns. She had exquisite taste and loved to dress and always look her best. When we became teenagers, she took each one of us that wanted to go on a trip to Italy.
She loved to laugh. In her lifetime, Nona saw Haley's comet twice, once as a little girl and then again many years later. She remembered hearing about the sinking of the Titanic as a child.
Nona deeply loved babies and children and was proud to have the most grandchildren in the family. She loved her great-grands and great-great grands too. They will always be my grandparents greatest legacy.
Tonight, I remember Nona with love and respect, for all she endured and accomplished and for the devotion she had for her family and her faith. God Bless you Nona, you will live in our hearts forever.
***A special heartfelt thanks to Joan & Doris who took such good care of Nona in her final years & to my uncle for making sure that she lived in her own home & to my little sister, who gave the most moving euology I've ever heard.
My grandfather initially immigrated to the US in 1920 with several of his brothers and opened a grocery store in Memphis, TN. He returned home to Italy to marry Nona. They had three children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Nona had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren & two great-great-grandchildren.
Nona lived a long, full life and always had funny stories and memories she shared with us of growing up in rural Italy, in the early 20th century. Prior to her marriage, she was a seamstress who made beautiful wedding gowns. She had exquisite taste and loved to dress and always look her best. When we became teenagers, she took each one of us that wanted to go on a trip to Italy.
She loved to laugh. In her lifetime, Nona saw Haley's comet twice, once as a little girl and then again many years later. She remembered hearing about the sinking of the Titanic as a child.
Nona deeply loved babies and children and was proud to have the most grandchildren in the family. She loved her great-grands and great-great grands too. They will always be my grandparents greatest legacy.
Tonight, I remember Nona with love and respect, for all she endured and accomplished and for the devotion she had for her family and her faith. God Bless you Nona, you will live in our hearts forever.
***A special heartfelt thanks to Joan & Doris who took such good care of Nona in her final years & to my uncle for making sure that she lived in her own home & to my little sister, who gave the most moving euology I've ever heard.
My grandmother "Nona Cenzina" passed away earlier tonight in Memphis, TN, at the age of 104. She was born in Bassignana, Italy on September 22, 1905 & was the eighth child of Luigi & Claudina Vescovo. Nona married our grandfather, Lawrence Migliara, in Italy in 1932. They were married by an American consulate at the American embassy in Genoa and honeymooned in Venice. She arrived in the USA on Christmas Day 1932.
My grandfather initially immigrated to the US in 1920 with several of his brothers and opened a grocery store in Memphis, TN. He returned home to Italy to marry Nona. They had three children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Nona had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren & two great-great-grandchildren.
Nona lived a long, full life and always had funny stories and memories she shared with us of growing up in rural Italy, in the early 20th century. Prior to her marriage, she was a seamstress who made beautiful wedding gowns. She had exquisite taste and loved to dress and always look her best. When we became teenagers, she took each one of us that wanted to go on a trip to Italy.
She loved to laugh. In her lifetime, Nona saw Haley's comet twice, once as a little girl and then again many years later. She remembered hearing about the sinking of the Titanic as a child.
Nona deeply loved babies and children and was proud to have the most grandchildren in the family. She loved her great-grands and great-great grands too. They will always be my grandparents greatest legacy.
Tonight, I remember Nona with love and respect, for all she endured and accomplished and for the devotion she had for her family and her faith. God Bless you Nona, you will live in our hearts forever.
***A special heartfelt thanks to Joan & Doris who took such good care of Nona in her final years & to my uncle for making sure that she lived in her own home & to my little sister, who gave the most moving euology I've ever heard.
My grandfather initially immigrated to the US in 1920 with several of his brothers and opened a grocery store in Memphis, TN. He returned home to Italy to marry Nona. They had three children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Nona had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren & two great-great-grandchildren.
Nona lived a long, full life and always had funny stories and memories she shared with us of growing up in rural Italy, in the early 20th century. Prior to her marriage, she was a seamstress who made beautiful wedding gowns. She had exquisite taste and loved to dress and always look her best. When we became teenagers, she took each one of us that wanted to go on a trip to Italy.
She loved to laugh. In her lifetime, Nona saw Haley's comet twice, once as a little girl and then again many years later. She remembered hearing about the sinking of the Titanic as a child.
Nona deeply loved babies and children and was proud to have the most grandchildren in the family. She loved her great-grands and great-great grands too. They will always be my grandparents greatest legacy.
Tonight, I remember Nona with love and respect, for all she endured and accomplished and for the devotion she had for her family and her faith. God Bless you Nona, you will live in our hearts forever.
***A special heartfelt thanks to Joan & Doris who took such good care of Nona in her final years & to my uncle for making sure that she lived in her own home & to my little sister, who gave the most moving euology I've ever heard.
