My Beloved Mother was
born to Michele and Anna Felicia Monaco. Came to the USA-Cleveland, Ohio from Campbasso Carpinone Italy with her Mother in 1910 at the age of 5 along with brothers Louis and John to live with their Father who had been in the USA for a few years working to save money to bring his family to live with him. She later had 3 sisters
Adeline-Lucy & Louise. Also another brother Nicholas.
She met her future husband Anthony Thomas when he moved in with the Monaco family as a renter. When a paesano (a fellow country man-friend) came from Italy most Italians would take them in till they got a job and a home of their own. It was love from the first meeting. They were married on June 19,1924. They were together till the day "Tony" died Oct.27,1972. 48 years married.
They had 3 Sons. Ralph-George & Peter.
16 Grandchildren-Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
My Mom was brought up in hard times and learned to make do with what ever was at hand. She was an exceptional cook & baker. She made everything from scratch. Her Pizza was the best I have ever tasted. It was just a simple style-her dough and her canned tomatoes-a few spices-cheese and olive oil-a few onions & peppers if she had them. The smell of them baking would make your mouth water.
Her bakery was outstanding. The house always smelled like something delicious was being cooked and it usually was. Money was always tight but she saw to it we always ate real good. She was the second oldest of her 6 siblings and learned how to cook at a very early age to help her Mother.
She was a small woman only 5 ft tall but you didn't mess with her. She had a temper when you misbehaved I'll tell you. She was always busy from Sun up to Sun down and would not put up with nonsense. I learned that at a very early age. But she was also a very loving & caring person.
Mom never learned to drive a car. In those days that was common for the women not to drive. They took care of the family & home. The man of the house drove. She later regretted not learning but I tried to teach her but she was afraid in traffic. She learned to drive a tractor and loved cutting the grass. She always wore a house dress but when she would get on the tractor she would put a pair of slacks on under her dress. Pants were for men she said. When she finished cutting the grass my Father would drive her up the street and buy her a double scoop ice cream-it was a joke between them. He would tell everyone that it only cost him $1 to get his grass cut. He had a heart condition and could not do it besides my Mom was a fussy one. She finally let me take over the chore. Mama was getting older. Mom & Dad moved to Seven Hills, Ohio in 1959-their first new home. She loved it there. In 1972 my Dad died and it was down hill from there for my Mom. We were there for her but her partner wasn't. She fell and broke her hip and never walked again. I think she just gave up. She missed my Dad.
I miss both of them very much and will always honor and love them.Today is my Dads birthday and tomorrow is Mothers Day and I wanted to make this Memorial for my Mom on his day.
I love you Ma.
Ralph
****Sadly Ralph passed away Oct. 25,2010
**
A special thank you to JAMES SEIDELMAN
for restoring the picture of my Mom & me.
**
born to Michele and Anna Felicia Monaco. Came to the USA-Cleveland, Ohio from Campbasso Carpinone Italy with her Mother in 1910 at the age of 5 along with brothers Louis and John to live with their Father who had been in the USA for a few years working to save money to bring his family to live with him. She later had 3 sisters
Adeline-Lucy & Louise. Also another brother Nicholas.
She met her future husband Anthony Thomas when he moved in with the Monaco family as a renter. When a paesano (a fellow country man-friend) came from Italy most Italians would take them in till they got a job and a home of their own. It was love from the first meeting. They were married on June 19,1924. They were together till the day "Tony" died Oct.27,1972. 48 years married.
They had 3 Sons. Ralph-George & Peter.
16 Grandchildren-Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
My Mom was brought up in hard times and learned to make do with what ever was at hand. She was an exceptional cook & baker. She made everything from scratch. Her Pizza was the best I have ever tasted. It was just a simple style-her dough and her canned tomatoes-a few spices-cheese and olive oil-a few onions & peppers if she had them. The smell of them baking would make your mouth water.
Her bakery was outstanding. The house always smelled like something delicious was being cooked and it usually was. Money was always tight but she saw to it we always ate real good. She was the second oldest of her 6 siblings and learned how to cook at a very early age to help her Mother.
She was a small woman only 5 ft tall but you didn't mess with her. She had a temper when you misbehaved I'll tell you. She was always busy from Sun up to Sun down and would not put up with nonsense. I learned that at a very early age. But she was also a very loving & caring person.
Mom never learned to drive a car. In those days that was common for the women not to drive. They took care of the family & home. The man of the house drove. She later regretted not learning but I tried to teach her but she was afraid in traffic. She learned to drive a tractor and loved cutting the grass. She always wore a house dress but when she would get on the tractor she would put a pair of slacks on under her dress. Pants were for men she said. When she finished cutting the grass my Father would drive her up the street and buy her a double scoop ice cream-it was a joke between them. He would tell everyone that it only cost him $1 to get his grass cut. He had a heart condition and could not do it besides my Mom was a fussy one. She finally let me take over the chore. Mama was getting older. Mom & Dad moved to Seven Hills, Ohio in 1959-their first new home. She loved it there. In 1972 my Dad died and it was down hill from there for my Mom. We were there for her but her partner wasn't. She fell and broke her hip and never walked again. I think she just gave up. She missed my Dad.
I miss both of them very much and will always honor and love them.Today is my Dads birthday and tomorrow is Mothers Day and I wanted to make this Memorial for my Mom on his day.
I love you Ma.
Ralph
****Sadly Ralph passed away Oct. 25,2010
**
A special thank you to JAMES SEIDELMAN
for restoring the picture of my Mom & me.
**
My Beloved Mother was
born to Michele and Anna Felicia Monaco. Came to the USA-Cleveland, Ohio from Campbasso Carpinone Italy with her Mother in 1910 at the age of 5 along with brothers Louis and John to live with their Father who had been in the USA for a few years working to save money to bring his family to live with him. She later had 3 sisters
Adeline-Lucy & Louise. Also another brother Nicholas.
She met her future husband Anthony Thomas when he moved in with the Monaco family as a renter. When a paesano (a fellow country man-friend) came from Italy most Italians would take them in till they got a job and a home of their own. It was love from the first meeting. They were married on June 19,1924. They were together till the day "Tony" died Oct.27,1972. 48 years married.
They had 3 Sons. Ralph-George & Peter.
16 Grandchildren-Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
My Mom was brought up in hard times and learned to make do with what ever was at hand. She was an exceptional cook & baker. She made everything from scratch. Her Pizza was the best I have ever tasted. It was just a simple style-her dough and her canned tomatoes-a few spices-cheese and olive oil-a few onions & peppers if she had them. The smell of them baking would make your mouth water.
Her bakery was outstanding. The house always smelled like something delicious was being cooked and it usually was. Money was always tight but she saw to it we always ate real good. She was the second oldest of her 6 siblings and learned how to cook at a very early age to help her Mother.
She was a small woman only 5 ft tall but you didn't mess with her. She had a temper when you misbehaved I'll tell you. She was always busy from Sun up to Sun down and would not put up with nonsense. I learned that at a very early age. But she was also a very loving & caring person.
Mom never learned to drive a car. In those days that was common for the women not to drive. They took care of the family & home. The man of the house drove. She later regretted not learning but I tried to teach her but she was afraid in traffic. She learned to drive a tractor and loved cutting the grass. She always wore a house dress but when she would get on the tractor she would put a pair of slacks on under her dress. Pants were for men she said. When she finished cutting the grass my Father would drive her up the street and buy her a double scoop ice cream-it was a joke between them. He would tell everyone that it only cost him $1 to get his grass cut. He had a heart condition and could not do it besides my Mom was a fussy one. She finally let me take over the chore. Mama was getting older. Mom & Dad moved to Seven Hills, Ohio in 1959-their first new home. She loved it there. In 1972 my Dad died and it was down hill from there for my Mom. We were there for her but her partner wasn't. She fell and broke her hip and never walked again. I think she just gave up. She missed my Dad.
I miss both of them very much and will always honor and love them.Today is my Dads birthday and tomorrow is Mothers Day and I wanted to make this Memorial for my Mom on his day.
I love you Ma.
Ralph
****Sadly Ralph passed away Oct. 25,2010
**
A special thank you to JAMES SEIDELMAN
for restoring the picture of my Mom & me.
**
born to Michele and Anna Felicia Monaco. Came to the USA-Cleveland, Ohio from Campbasso Carpinone Italy with her Mother in 1910 at the age of 5 along with brothers Louis and John to live with their Father who had been in the USA for a few years working to save money to bring his family to live with him. She later had 3 sisters
Adeline-Lucy & Louise. Also another brother Nicholas.
She met her future husband Anthony Thomas when he moved in with the Monaco family as a renter. When a paesano (a fellow country man-friend) came from Italy most Italians would take them in till they got a job and a home of their own. It was love from the first meeting. They were married on June 19,1924. They were together till the day "Tony" died Oct.27,1972. 48 years married.
They had 3 Sons. Ralph-George & Peter.
16 Grandchildren-Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
My Mom was brought up in hard times and learned to make do with what ever was at hand. She was an exceptional cook & baker. She made everything from scratch. Her Pizza was the best I have ever tasted. It was just a simple style-her dough and her canned tomatoes-a few spices-cheese and olive oil-a few onions & peppers if she had them. The smell of them baking would make your mouth water.
Her bakery was outstanding. The house always smelled like something delicious was being cooked and it usually was. Money was always tight but she saw to it we always ate real good. She was the second oldest of her 6 siblings and learned how to cook at a very early age to help her Mother.
She was a small woman only 5 ft tall but you didn't mess with her. She had a temper when you misbehaved I'll tell you. She was always busy from Sun up to Sun down and would not put up with nonsense. I learned that at a very early age. But she was also a very loving & caring person.
Mom never learned to drive a car. In those days that was common for the women not to drive. They took care of the family & home. The man of the house drove. She later regretted not learning but I tried to teach her but she was afraid in traffic. She learned to drive a tractor and loved cutting the grass. She always wore a house dress but when she would get on the tractor she would put a pair of slacks on under her dress. Pants were for men she said. When she finished cutting the grass my Father would drive her up the street and buy her a double scoop ice cream-it was a joke between them. He would tell everyone that it only cost him $1 to get his grass cut. He had a heart condition and could not do it besides my Mom was a fussy one. She finally let me take over the chore. Mama was getting older. Mom & Dad moved to Seven Hills, Ohio in 1959-their first new home. She loved it there. In 1972 my Dad died and it was down hill from there for my Mom. We were there for her but her partner wasn't. She fell and broke her hip and never walked again. I think she just gave up. She missed my Dad.
I miss both of them very much and will always honor and love them.Today is my Dads birthday and tomorrow is Mothers Day and I wanted to make this Memorial for my Mom on his day.
I love you Ma.
Ralph
****Sadly Ralph passed away Oct. 25,2010
**
A special thank you to JAMES SEIDELMAN
for restoring the picture of my Mom & me.
**
