A non-fiction epic of a courageous single mother who emigrated from Sicilyto fulfill her dreams of living in a land of freedom and opportunity - America.A personal and historical account of the pains, joy and adventure experiencedby this mother from the time she left Sicily in 1905 until her death in Americain 1950. Memories of influential people, famous places, family traditions andauthentic southern Italian foods and recipes, growing up in an Italian Paradisecalled Little Italy (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Larimer Avenue) in the early1900's. A book to be enjoyed by anyone who had an ancestor who emigratedfrom Europe in the early 1900's.



Author John C.Zappia was born 1938 in Pittsburgh (East Liberty), Pennsylvania.Grew up in North Hills (Shaler Township), Pennsylvania. Attended Saint AnneElementary School in Millvale, Pa. Graduated from Shaler High School,Glenshaw, Pa. in 1956. Served in U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. MarriedNancy Leach from Monongahela, Pa. in 1961. Current family: Children- Tammy,Jeff, Dana, Jay. Grandchildren: Timothy, Alex, Rana, Christa, Adam, Gia. GreatGrandchildren: Haleigh, Hannah, Hayden, Logan. Graduated from Universityof Pittsburgh in 1976 with BS degree in Business Administration. AttendedUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, Graduate School of Banking - Graduated in1985. Worked at PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, Pa. for 38 years. Retired in 1998 as VicePresident of Operations Services. Currently residing in Evans City, Pa. withwife, Nancy. Along with wife, Nancy, served with Global Volunteers in teachingconversational English in Ostuni, Italy (2004) and Xian, China (2006). Wrotetwo books about experiences in Italy and China - Teaching In Italy-Living aDream and Teaching and Touring in China.