your personal stories about your Italian heritage or family

[Robin Patriarca]

My name is Robin Patriarca, I'm 42 and now reside in Northern Maine (there are no Italians here only French). My family is from Shrewsbury Street. My grandmothers maiden name was D'Angelo, she was Calabraise. My grandfather came here when he was 16 from Southern Italy with his parents through Ellis Island, NY. My father Larry Patriarca played accordian in the Perry Conte Trio for 25 years - 1960 to 85. Jerry Conte played bass and at one time Tony Casino. Al Lopez played guitar (he has an Italian name but changed his image to Spanish due to the Cuban influence on music in the 50's). They knew how to MC a wedding. Something you don't see being done very well anymore. I have kept up the traditional recipes handed down by my grandmother (food being so important in this culture). Weddings, there were many, my father being in a wedding band and all. Always the Italian ones were all homemade food, aunts cooking up a storm. Christmas Eve was a big deal, I remember that. My family was hearty, loud and fun. I miss them. I remember Derrico's Market on Shrewsbury St. and fresh cannoli's from Scano's. I remember my grandmother making macaroni, she'ld roll out the doe with a very long rolling pin and then lay the doe out on a homemade board with wires like a harp and spaghetti would form on the other side. Then she would hang it to dry on the drying rack. Being a musical family my cousiins were the D'Angelo's in rock band Mad Angel circa early 70's. These are a few of my stories what are some of yours?

[Diane]

My name is Robin Patriarca, I'm 42 and now reside in Northern Maine (there are no Italians here only French). My family is from Shrewsbury Street. My grandmothers maiden name was D'Angelo, she was Calabraise. My grandfather came here when he was 16 from Southern Italy with his parents through Ellis Island, NY. My father Larry Patriarca played accordian in the Perry Conte Trio for 25 years - 1960 to 85. Jerry Conte played bass and at one time Tony Casino. Al Lopez played guitar (he has an Italian name but changed his image to Spanish due to the Cuban influence on music in the 50's). They knew how to MC a wedding. Something you don't see being done very well anymore. I have kept up the traditional recipes handed down by my grandmother (food being so important in this culture). Weddings, there were many, my father being in a wedding band and all. Always the Italian ones were all homemade food, aunts cooking up a storm. Christmas Eve was a big deal, I remember that. My family was hearty, loud and fun. I miss them. I remember Derrico's Market on Shrewsbury St. and fresh cannoli's from Scano's. I remember my grandmother making macaroni, she'ld roll out the doe with a very long rolling pin and then lay the doe out on a homemade board with wires like a harp and spaghetti would form on the other side. Then she would hang it to dry on the drying rack. Being a musical family my cousiins were the D'Angelo's in rock band Mad Angel circa early 70's. These are a few of my stories what are some of yours?

[Diane]

Hello Robin..........how nice to be able to talk about our Italian heritage! I grew up on Bell Hill. My name is Diane Morgan,however my maiden name is Bellione. I too, remember Derrico's market. I am 53 years old and went to Our Lady of Mt Carmel church as a kid. I grew up on Bell hill and as a really young child lived on Shelby St. Are you familiar with that area?? I used to love going to Derrico's with my mom and looking at all that wonderful food! I've lived in Calif. for the last 28 years and miss all the good traditions and foods of our heritage. Callif. has it's Italian deli's but nothing like the east coast. I now live in Missouri and there are not many Italians here in my neighborhood. OH well........I went to Gage St grammer school for one year. I am very familiar with Shrewsbury St. I haven't been there in many years so I'm sure things are different.  I always felt at home there. I remember the Italian Kitchen had very good food.I wonder if they're still there?? My mom was born in Italy. SHe is 84 and my dad is 81 and she still cooks her pasta on Wed. nights. I miss all the great food from the east. Though I must say I went to an Italian restaurant last week in Kansas City and the food was AWESOME! Good talking to you!
Diane Bellione Morgan

[Robin Patriarca]

Hi Diane,
Nice to meet you. I'm familiar with Bell hill but not Shelby St. I remember the Italian Kitchen and have been there a few times in the 70's. There was a house on Hamilton St. where an Italian family used to serve patrons in there living room and kitchen! Besides my Aunt Lorraine they had the best Italian food I ever had. There is no Italian food where I live but I share my heritage with friends. My parents and grandparents are deceased now but whenever I cook those recipes I feel like there here with me. I've cooked Eggplant Parmesan and Annisette Cookies for two of my friends weddings and it was an honor to be able to do that. I loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding although they were Greek in this movie it was reminicent of the weddings and family gathering I went to as a child and they were loud like that. So much laughter and kids running everywhere. Good times. As children we weren't hidden. We went to all the adult parties in our jammies. With all the musicians in my family, there was always music and guitar jams. So much fun. My father's band would always play the "snake" song, Hava Nikea (don't know if thats spelled right). And sometimes they would play it at family parties and we'ld all hold hands and snake through the house and outside. I teach my children as much as I can about their Italian heritage. Their not in touch with anyone as everyone has moved away and we are here. I would love to go to Italy one day. My brother has gone and learned that our last name means the Patriarch or the father. Anyway, great to meet you.

[Diane]

Hey Robin, I make Anise cookies every single Christmas, and my friends love them. I make the real soft ones, not the ones that you dip in coffee. Mine are the ones with the icing on them, do you know which ones I'm talking about?? Did you go to North High School? What grammer school did you go to?? By the way I have a sister that lives in Maine. She lives in Cape ELizabeth. Have you heard of it??

[Robin Patriarca]

Those are the same that I make, soft ones with icing and non-parelles on top. And yeah everyone loves those cookies. I make a family project out it with my 5 year old. Where I live in Maine is the most northern section. Fort Kent which is where Route 1 starts on upper border of Canada. I'm not real familiar with the coastal towns as thats 4 to 5 hours from here. I went to Chaffins in Holden for grammar school, moved to Worcester at age 11 and went to Providence Junior High and South High when it was brand new. Being into art, I miss the Art Museum and go when I visit my brother down yonder.

[Tony Bellione]

My name is (Norman) Anthony Bellione.... Diane Bellione is my cousin... the last time I saw her was in California in Lake Elsenor about fifteen years ago... I now live in Tennessee.  I see that she has returned home to Worcester, Mass.  Her uncle, my farther, Anthony Joseph Bellione died in 1994 in Rhode Island.  I would like to be able to talk to her in person.  My phone number is 615-595-9777.... this is my office number.
My oldest son is now back in Iraq for the third time... He is an officer/pilot in the Air Force.  He has three girls, the oldest in twelve.  My youngest son lives in Reno with his wife and two children, his oldest is three. My wife and I go to Italy every year and have been able to locate two relatives... Luca and Sabina Bellione in Milan. I also have information about our grandfather, Pasquale Bellione.

[Diane]

Hey Toni, I am so glad that you discovered this great website~ and I am so glad that we're back in touch:)

[MaryLand]

I lived in Worcester 50S-mid 60's and around Shrewsbury St too. (also in Shrewsbury) I am not of Italian heritage but feel like I am because of the background and surroundings of Shrewsbury St that I grew up in.  It was great food!!  I remember Derricos' too, D'Amicos' Bakery cream cakes, cream horns, anise cookies and Ferraro's restaurant where my mother worked for over 10 years. Their food was so good and they were good people.! 
On weekends we'd sometimes get Italian club sandwiches, and if it was hot weather, lemon ice !  I moved every so often so I went to Adams St School and Elizabeth St School. I played at Bell Hill, Green Hill and around Shrewsbury St.  I recall the religious feasts where they'd parade down Shrewsbury St carrying a statue with money pinned to the skirt of the statue. (even though I am Catholic I cannot recall if it was Fatima or Mary, or Lady of Mt Carmel ??)  Robin if you'd share your recipe of Soft Anise Cookies, I'd love it!  I laughed when the mention of Big Fat Greek Wedding came up, because as we watched that with my family, I could point out things that I could relate to.  Although Sopranos is over the top, even that show could bring back many, many memories.
My family moved out of state in the mid 60's and I've always checked up on the Worcester websites to keep up on the area. 
Good memories!

[Diane]

Hi Maryland, I can't believe you went to Elizabeth St School, so did I! That was in the early 60's. When did you go there? Do you remember Ms. Gatti?? What's your maiden name?? You bet those are good memories, and they were the good old days too weren't they??
diane

[MaryLand]

Hi Diane,
I'm older than you are. I went to Eliz. St School in 1958 - 1959.  Yes, I remember Miss Gatti.  Those schools were ancient!  That was where we first started PHY ED, or so to speak.  We'd play bean bag toss in the basement, and I'm wondering if it was one of the very first type of presidential physical fitness programs.  Otherwise we played kickball on the upper level of the shool yard.
I lived on Farwell St. on the 3rd floor of a triple decker owned by an Italian family and on Sunday mornings after church they'd play Italian music, and of course with only screens on our hot 3rd floor window I heard it and became very familiar with those songs.   During lent my sister and I would walk towards the Bell Hill area over Shrewsbury St and we'd get Fish & Chips for supper on Friday nights. 
I remember Gypsies too during those times in a store front not far from the auditorium.  They advertised palm reading.  Lots of good memories and it is so much fun to see all of the photos posted on this great website. It takes time to search but there is lots of info on here.
Thanks for the chat!

[Diane]

I can't believe this, I lived at the corner of Farwell and Eastern Ave.......I am 53 years old.........I wonder if we know each other.......Do you want to tell me your name (maiden name)?? I remember Elizabeth St School so well. Remember how safe and wonderful life was then?? Do you still live in Worcester? Do you remember me at all?? My name is Diane Bellione, and I have 3 sisters, Mary, Joan and Debi. Do you recall any of us? Do you know Pete Zompetti?? Laura Troio? Glenn Smith? So good talking to you.......

[MaryLand]

How about that?  WOW....No, I don't live there anymore.  My family moved to the Midwest in the mid60's.  As a family we visited back to Worc. up until the 70's and I've lived elsewhere in MA over the years, and vacation on the shore, but never went to Worcester as no family was there after that. 

Oh, we probably were IN school at the same time, even though we had to line up in our own room/grade lines in the schoolyard. 

I don't recall many names at all, other than the Cournoyers on Farwell St.  I used to play with her. They had an old barn in the back of their yard, connected to the house and used as a shed for storage.  Upstairs in the barn must have been a living area way back when, as there were the studs and rafters of rooms, sink area, openings for windows etc.   They had twin babies in 1958.  I am not sure where Eastern Ave is, and I'll have to check on some Worc. maps to see the city better.   
Across the street from where I lived was a large white 2 story house with dark green trim and the yard was big, and entirely fenced in yard.  I played with the girl upstairs sometimes.
No I don't recall any of those classmates you mentioned.    
I also lived on Caprera Rd when I went to Adams Street School and that was in 7th grade.  TTYL ~M

[Diane]

I knew the Courneyors well, my sister Mary was good friends with Joyce. And my sister Debi was good friends with the twins, Norma and Donna. Norma passed away a few years ago from uterine cancer. As I recall there were 2 other sisters, Barbara and Beverly?? We lived directly behind their house, our back yard was right behind their house. Which of the girls were you friends with? Do you remember the Fergersons? There was JoAnne, and she had a few brothers, Gerald and a few others who I can't recall now. I live in the mid west now, I live in Missouri. That area of Worcester is pretty bad now. How sad it was to go down there and see what it has become. I drove by there a few years ago when I went to see my parents. Do you remember  Vessio's market at the corner of Belmont and Eastern Ave?? Do you remember Bell Pond??

[MaryLand]

I think I was friends to Joyce.  We buried an instant coffee jar in her backyard near the swing set with our names on paper supposedly as a time capsule for the future. Ha, this is better than that. Yes I do recall the Fergusons, JoAnne and Gerald.  I would go get them on the way to walk to school.  Yes I recall the markets.  We'd buy penny candy and cold popsicles on hot summer days.  So that tells me that Eastern Ave. was up at the top of the Farewell St.  Bell Pond was fun and the park too.  I got swimmers rash from swimming in Bell Pond though.  I would like to return and go to the cemeteries to visit graves.  Our small family always visited the graves on Memorial Day.
I also recall a boy nearer to the school who had pigeons on his back porch.
Unless Robin came up to the school yard to play in our area, I know I did not go down to the Shelby area other than the walks to get Fish 'n'Chips and to go to church.   Since I only lived there 1 year or so I probably can't recall all of the kids' names.  There were times we all played hide & seek and all slid down the sidewalks on sleds, or swam at Bell Pond.  We probably were shoulder to shoulder many times and now get to chat.     We'll have to think on this, maybe more memories will come up.