Sweet Memories

me and grandma fesi 1963

•          My name is Dominic Scirrotto. I am a third generation italian-american. I was born in philadelphia in 1961. I was keenly aware of my italian identity from a very early age. My father instilled in me a deep sense of pride in our heritage. My earliest memory of my great-grandmother Vincenza Fesi nee (meli) was around christmas  1966. As we entered the house , grandma Fesi grabbed me up and took me into the kitchen to give me a homemade cookie. She put her finger to her mouth and smiled and looked around , and then quickly she and I had a taste of anizette. Her home was a three story row home on 24th street in the fairmount section of philly.It was the place where all of the family came together. Of course sunday dinner was the driving force.I will always remember the sounds and smells when we went there. She lived there with my grandparents , her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her husband Mariano Fesi died the year I was born. My father and his siblings lived most of there lives here.                              Vincenza meli was born christmas day 1887 in a small mountain village in sicily named Castelbuono.She immigrated in the year 1901. Her father Giacchino Meli had come to america the previous year. He settled in south philadelphia. Her mother Nicoletta Genchi came through ellis island with vincenza age 13, Vincenzo age 7, Guiseppe age 3, and Antonia 3 months. Grandma fesi was a tiny women, she spoke very little english. She was loved and respected. She gave birth to twelve children. She lost a son vincenzo at less than a month, and a daughter christina at seven months. Five of her sons served in the armed forces. All of her children worked hard and reaped the benefits of there labor. Grandma fesi died august 31, 1972. And with her death that bond to our italian family began to change.This blog is an attempt to tell my family story. For anyone who is interested. I feel greatly blessed to be a part  of this story .This blog is for family and friends who feel that ache in there hearts for simpler times, for time spent with family. Welcome to our story.

grandma and america j fesi

fesi family abt 1928