Generations of Hope, Triumph, Laughter and Love
1856–1948 Giovanni (John) Zisa was born on December 18, 1856, in Santa Croce Camerina, Ragusa, Italy, the son of Giovanna and Francesco. He married Antonina (Nina, Annie) DiMartino in 1895 in his hometown. They had ten children in 17 years. He died on August 13, 1948, in Paterson, New Jersey, at the age of 91….
1859 – 1935 Various Spellings for Bernardino Di Crescenzo The names for both Bernardino and his wife, Antonietta, go through many evolutions, showing perhaps a lack of concern by whoever was taking down their information, combined with both of them speaking only their native language, Italian and perhaps never learning to read and write, themselves….
1873 – 1910 Various Spellings for Antonietta Faracelli Di Crescenzo Like her husband, Bernardino, my Great Grandmother has an assortment of name variations which made it extremely difficult to trace her with any certainty. I was able to cross-check with other things, such as birth records for her sons and a marriage certificate from Wappingers…
by Jeeni Criscenzo Grandma arrived in her ancient Oldsmobile with giant sugar cookies nestled in tissue paper in a Poughkeepsie bakery box denied us until we submitted to her yanking a lice comb through our unruly hair. Grandma announced that this summer she would be taking me – the eldest – as her companion for…