Giovanna Ferdenzi, my mom, was born on January 1, 1911 in northern Italy. She was the second of twelve children. She was the oldest girl and had to stop school at 8 years old because she had to help at home. She always knew hard work and responsibility. She learned to cook and bake from watching and working with her Mamma in the kitchen. She became one of the best cooks that I have ever known. She would have large gatherings with family and friends at our apartment in the Bronx and later at our Yonkers home. She really had a lot of enthusiasm getting ready for the crowd and she knew that my father really enjoyed the company. She got married at 18 years old. She was a dressmaker and I can remember her at her sewing machine making clothes for me and later on for her grandchildren. It was the girls that got her pretty clothes that she zipped through on the sewing machine. I have wonderful memories of waiting for her and my Pappa coming up from the city on a Friday evening to our country house in Wappingars Fall, NY. My sister, brother and I stayed with Nonna during the week because my Mom and Dad worked. When they came they brought such yummy food and it was all wonderful. She had a garden at our country house and canned tomatoes from the harvest. She made sure that we were all educated because that meant a lot to her since she had to stop school reluctantly. I thank her for many things and I can still picture her activity and ambition to get her things done. Her specialness will not be forgotten.
Giovanna Ferdenzi, my mom, was born on January 1, 1911 in northern Italy. She was the second of twelve children. She was the oldest girl and had to stop school at 8 years old because she had to help at home. She always knew hard work and responsibility. She learned to cook and bake from watching and working with her Mamma in the kitchen. She became one of the best cooks that I have ever known. She would have large gatherings with family and friends at our apartment in the Bronx and later at our Yonkers home. She really had a lot of enthusiasm getting ready for the crowd and she knew that my father really enjoyed the company. She got married at 18 years old. She was a dressmaker and I can remember her at her sewing machine making clothes for me and later on for her grandchildren. It was the girls that got her pretty clothes that she zipped through on the sewing machine. I have wonderful memories of waiting for her and my Pappa coming up from the city on a Friday evening to our country house in Wappingars Fall, NY. My sister, brother and I stayed with Nonna during the week because my Mom and Dad worked. When they came they brought such yummy food and it was all wonderful. She had a garden at our country house and canned tomatoes from the harvest. She made sure that we were all educated because that meant a lot to her since she had to stop school reluctantly. I thank her for many things and I can still picture her activity and ambition to get her things done. Her specialness will not be forgotten.
