![]() ![]() ![]() For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers in the Universe! ![]() I’m honoring both my Grandmother and Mother who made me who I am, they were Renaissance women, ahead of their time to take charge and to protect those that they loved. Women who were devoted to Our Mother Mary, who prayed the rosary, and had unquestionable faith. On this Mother’s Day, I hope you delve into your own histories, and honor the women, whether they were Italian or not, those that came before you, those that set the pace for you and for giving you a better life. The gratitude I feel for my ancestors is deep, and I would not be in this beautiful country without their ingenuity and persistence. My memory allows me to still recall the day my Mother left Italy to travel to the US alone so that she could get a job and establish residency before I and the rest of my family could travel to Philadelphia. In the process of writing my book, I was torn about my devotion and respect for my Grandfather, for giving me the opportunity to immigrate to America, and the resilience and sacrifices of my Grandmother for keeping us safe in Italy. It certainly didn’t cover the herculean task of raising a family in war-ravaged and impoverished villages. While the monetary support was helpful, it didn’t begin to cover what was needed. Often these women would never see their husbands again. The husbands would send money back to the family in Italy to help support them. White Widows were women that were left behind in Italy while their husbands went to the US to work. I read this book decades ago but it really resonated with me because I realized that my Grandmother Teresa was a White Widow. This book speaks about Italian immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first time, I heard the words White Widow, was in a book I read, called Unto the Sons by Jerre Mangione and Gaetano Talese. In addition, my Mother began to write some of these stories in a journal a few years before her death. This book was inspired by the countless stories my Grandmother and Mother told me. I tell a fictionalized version of their story, in my book White Widow. They had to have these qualities in order to survive the life that they were handed. She was the strongest woman I have ever met, with my Mother, Raffaela, being a close second.īoth Teresa and Raffaela had the stamina of an army and the hearts of legions. I’m paying tribute to my Grandmother, Teresa. Of course, as in all individuals, everyone’s experience is unique. For those of you who have been blessed to have an Italian Mother and an Italian Grandmother, I hope these words you are reading will sound familiar and meaningful. ![]()
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