Mary Davis, Irene Capstack, and Stephen Davis
Recorded
April 2, 2014
39:50 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby011973
Description
Sisters Mary Davis (81) and Irene Capstack (76) tell their son/nephew Stephen Davis (51) stories about growing up in a large Sicilian American family in New Jersey, and their visits back to Italy.Subject Log / Time Code
IC and MD talk about their paternal grandparents, who kept homemade wine in the basement. Their grandfather Leo and his brothers farmed in New Jersey then Leo moved back to Italy because life was hard. They talk about going to visit their paternal grandparents in Italy, and describe their grandmother's affections.
IC and MD talk about what they know about their maternal grandparents, Maria and Giovanni, whom they never met. These grandparents lived in Italy and raised their daughter, Maria, to be aloof and alone. Giovanni lived far away from where he worked so as to avoid the mafioso at home.
IC and MD talk about their trip to Europe in 1961 to visit family in Italy. They had wonderful fun with their cousins. They tell stories about their adolescent hijinks with their cousins.
IC and MD describe memories from their childhoods, including swearing in Italian (without know it), what their parents would prepare for meals, getting in trouble.
IC and MD talk about their relationship as children. They fought sometimes. MD tells the story of IC's birth, and how she named her.
IC and MD talk about their father Leo's work as a mechanic for a bread company.
(approx.): MD sings an Italian song used in her family as a lullaby.
Participants
- Mary Davis
- Irene Capstack
- Stephen Davis