ORIGINS ITALY Guest Blogger: Louise Coakley Many Italian-Americans may have relatives in Australia, some of whom may have lost touch with each other since immigrating to different countries decades ago. As family elders now reminisce and younger generations crave knowledge of their family history, the advances in technology combine to make it a perfect time to get online and rediscover long lost relatives. Although there were smaller intakes of Italian immigrants to Australia in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, by…
As a full-time Italian Genealogist, I’ve had the privilege of spending extended periods in Italy researching the family histories of my clients and my own family. It’s a great job. I love being over there. I am particularly intrigued by the many rich and colorful traditions of Italy that I experience while living in the midst of the culture. In order to gain insight, I regularly encourage my Italian relatives and friends to relate to me their understanding and experience…
(Click here to read “Retracing Noni’s Footsteps – Part 1”) Sometimes one’s family history comes into unexpected convergence with world shaping events. My grandmother Loredana Tedesco (nee’ Stenech) was a young girl living in Rome when World War II broke out. She remained in the city throughout the war. It was a difficult period for the Italian people and for my grandmother. Many lives were lost. Families were disrupted and destroyed. Prior to Rome being declared an “Open City,” buildings…
My paternal grandmother, Loredana Carla Pia Maria Stenech (now Tedesco), was born in the quaint northern Italian town of Rovereto, Italy. Located in the Province of Trento, Rovereto, is nestled in the Dolomites and boasts about 37,500 residents. I call my grandmother “Noni, an endearing diminutive of Nonna, the Italian word for grandmother. Telling Noni’s story is extremely important to me since she has encouraged my passion and pursuit of Italian genealogy more than anyone else. She is my heroine…
My grandfather, Edward Tedesco, was born in the small Calabrian community of San Pietro a Maida, Italy. It is an ancient town surrounded by lush green mountains covered with thousands of the most beautiful olive trees you have ever seen. So enchanting is the scenery that you can sit entranced for hours imagining how wonderful life is. But beyond this ambient serenity, few outside the region are aware that from these lovely family groves comes a rare secret olive oil…