Dominica Appicciafuoco a small, Italian woman took a journey to America, from Italy, 15 years after she was born.  Minnie (short for Dominica) was born on December 24, 1904 in Nappazano, Italy.  I fondly know this 97-year-old as “Great-grandmom”.
        Minnie’s early years are not very vivid to her, yet she did recall some interesting experiences during our personal interview.  The fashions, during her youth, included long skirts and blouses.  This kind individual was raised as a Roman Catholic and has remained a devout Christian for her entire life.  Minnie Capriotti  (maiden name) attended school only through third grade.  She explained that this was not uncommon for females during her generation.  In fact, it was quite an accomplishment for girls to remain in school that long during the early 1900’s!   Minnie enjoyed playing with a special doll during her childhood and had the responsibility of caring for the chickens that her family owned.  Great-grandmom has fond memories of her early years, however her teenage years proved to be turbulent!
        Dominica Capriotti married Pasquale Apicciafuoco in Italy during 1920.  He was thirty years old, while she was only a mere fifteen years of age.  Although this may seem alarming to us during the twenty-first century, Minnie claims that, “it was not unusual during that era to be wed at such a young age.”  In fact, many of her friends were married around the age of fifteen.  Minnie has no regrets about marrying at such an early stage in her life.
        Later, during the same year Dominica was wed, she moved to America.  Minnie recalls being exactly fifteen and a half at the time.  She moved to the United States with Pasquale, while her family and friends remained in Italy.  Minnie traveled on a ship to America and recalls enjoying the time spent with Pasquale during the journey.
        Once in America, Minnie and Pasquale purchased a house in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.  On the porch of this beloved, brick house, she occupied her days by running a business.  Minnie sold baked goods and household appliances while Pasquale worked at Doyle’s Nursery.   Minnie recalls with a hearty laugh that she needed to be determined and brave during this era because gypsies would often visit the store in order to steal.   Great-grandmom abhorred these people, and since she was such a strong-willed person, she decided to do something about it!  Minnie would hide her enormous butcher’s knife under the counter, and anytime the gypsies would attempt to rob her, she would chase them away with the intimidating knife.  Minnie continued to make a living from this job for about ten years.
         During these first ten years on Old Lancaster Avenue, in Berwyn, Minnie gave birth to four children.  Peter, her firstborn, died of pneumonia at the age of one.  However, the next three children born to Minnie and Pasquale are still alive today.  All of her children are currently in their seventies and reside in or near Berwyn.  Her oldest daughter is named Rose, her only son, who is my grandfather, is Joseph, and the youngest sibling is called Mary.  The tragedy of losing a child remains a painful memory for Dominica.  She boasts that her children are the biggest accomplishments of her life.  Minnie claims that Rose, Joe, and Mary have brought her the most enjoyment in her full life, and she proudly views her children as her personal heroes.
        Being ninety-seven years old, Great-grandmom has had the opportunity for a multitude of experiences.  Fortunately, she has a wonderful sense of humor, and can therefore chuckle as she relates the story of accidentally backing into Pasquale with her car.  Pasquale was attempting to walk around the rear of the car in order to get into the passenger’s side.  Minnie eagerly got into the car, threw it into reverse and stepped on the gas.  (Minnie won’t admit this…but my mom claims that Great-grandmom would never use her mirrors or turn around to look behind her!)   Minnie proceeded to back over Great-grandpop and break his leg.  (She claims that she doesn’t remember that part of the story!)  Minnie loved driving even though she never really mastered the skill.  My mom remembers Minnie barreling down the highway in her huge Oldsmobile, always confident that “everyone would get out of her way!”
        Great-grandmom takes great pride in the fact that she never purchased boxed spaghetti.  She always made her own dough from scratch and created her own noodles with a pasta machine. Dominica had a second, enormous kitchen in her basement and this is where she would spend an entire day creating “the pasta”.  After the pasta was completed, Minnie would make the sauce from scratch.  She’d take the tomatoes that she had grown from her garden and creates the best homemade sauce for her friends and family.
        Minnie always managed to amaze everyone on her birthday, which is on Christmas Eve.  On this day, she would always take great pleasure in cooking for everyone she knew.  Her friends and family would begin to arrive at ten a.m.  The house would quickly fill with people to the extent that you couldn’t get in or out of the door. Minnie would constantly cook the entire time, until the final guest usually left around midnight.  There would be a wide variety of food at this feast.   She loved cooking for others on her birthday, and eagerly awaited the event.  The next day she would always be able to readily account the names of all of her birthday visitors, as well as those friends and family members who did not arrive at her party.  (Those unfortunate individuals quickly fell out of her good graces!)  We are saddened by the fact that due to a stroke, Minnie needed to be moved into a nursing home this past September.  This will be the first time in eighty-two years that she will not be able to cook a birthday feast in her warm, cozy kitchen on Old Lancaster Avenue.  We must start a new tradition.
        During the course of Minnie’s rich life, her hobbies have included gardening, cooking and knitting.   It was common for her to create a seven-course meal, and although some of her children and grandchildren participated in the popular Italian meal called “The Seven Fishes,” it was not one of Minnie’s favorite Christmas traditions.  Minnie insisted on sitting in the second pew at St. Monica’s Church, in Berwyn, every Sunday for the ten o’clock mass.  This was also a custom that she religiously upheld for eighty-two years.
        Great-grandmom happily relates that she has a long list of friends.  One of her closest friends is a lady by the name of Anne.  She also had a group of friends that she played cards with every Saturday night.  This is a practice that she participated in all of the way up until the time that she was admitted into the nursing home.  My mom, Joni, said Minnie would be so proud on Sundays if she had proven to be successful the previous evening.  Mom can remember Minnie boasting one day,  “ Oh Joan, I beat them all!  I won five dollars!”
        She believes the largest historical event that occurred in her lifetime was World War II.  This is a significant event to Minnie because her son, Joe, fought in this war.  She also thinks the car has been the most ingenious invention during her lifetime.  She presently has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one special, great-great-grandchild.
        My life has been richer as a result of my great-grandmother, Dominica Capriotti Appicciafuoco.  Minnie has taught me many valuable life lessons and I admire her perseverance, talents, and compassion. I will forever remember how I always walked into her house, and smelled the heart-warming scent of something baking.  There would either be cookies or other treats in the oven whenever we visited.   I will also remember her ninety-sixth birthday. My sister, Courtney, had responded to a party before our family heard about Great-grandmom’s birthday party.  Consequently, Courtney decided to go to the party that she had already said she would attend.  Since Minnie has such a sharp mind, she remembered that Courtney was not at her celebration.  Therefore, when Great-grandmom gave us gifts for Christmas she said, “Here’s a gift for Cailey and here’s a gift for Kelsey,” Then she announced, “And here’s a gift for “the other one.” Minnie proceeded to hand a gift to Courtney, my sister who had not gone to Minnie’s party.  My great-grandmother has provided a wonderful role model for my sisters, relatives, and me, and we feel enriched whenever we have the opportunity to visit her.  It is our hope that Minnie can continue to enjoy and value her life in her current living situation.  At this stage of her life, Dominica deserves the very best care because of all she has given to others.