I sat down recently with my Nonna, (grandmother in Italian) and did a short interview with her about her earlier life.
Here are the results:
Q 1: What year were you born in?
I was born on June 7, 1930. My parents named me Serena because I was born on a starry night. The announcement of my birth said: "In una notte di stelle è nata Serena". (on a starry night, Serena was born)
Q 2: What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is of my mommy lying in her bed in a darkened room speaking very softly to me. I was not allowed to hug her. While my mommy recovered from the flu, I stayed with Zia Claudia, (aunt claudia) who spoiled me to death. I must have been three or four.
Q 3. What was elementary school like for you?
The school I attended was across the street from my home. I had the same teacher for all five years of elementary school: Signorina Elvira Mazzucco, who was very strict, but thorough. The class was big, but she kept us under control all the time. I regret that we did not do enough art work. I don't remember all the girls in the class, but I formed a lasting friendship with four of them: Maia, Isabella, Luisa and Anna Maria.
WWll started before I finished elementary school. The only changes brought by the war affecting my school were the drills with gas masks and the bomb shelter.
Q 4: What was the hardest thing about living through WWll?
The hardest thing for me was to have my two brothers in the army: Tonino first and then Paolo. We were always afraid of bad news, but fortunately they survived. The other thing was the bombing of civilian targets. Mantova, the town I lived in, was not a military target, but we had to go into a shelter every time the alarm went off; and we did, after several bombs destroyed houses and killed people, including a friend of your Nonno. The war started when I was ten and ended when I was fifteen, and I missed a lot of things, such as "hanging out" with friends at sporting events, dances, or just sitting on the steps of our church. I also missed having nice new clothes. I always wore hand-me-downs from my older cousins, or clothes that I had sewn myself.
Q 5: Did you have any chores around the house? Any allowance?
I helped my mom with whatever chores needed to be done, especially shopping and cooking. I didn't have any allowance because there was just enough money to eat, especially since my dad lost his job in 1943. My mom taught me to make pasta by hand, and to make "castagnaccio,” a snack made with chestnut flour and oil. I also ironed shirts and mended socks.
This may be updated soon if we do more questions.
New posts soon!
