Paul was from the city of Salemi, Sicily, Italy. His father was Fredrick Gennaro and his mother was Maria (Scoliosis) Mestretta. Paul's sister told my mom that the real last name of the family was Gennaro and that they added Mestretta later. I think this is why all his children have the same middle name, Gennaro.
I also found out that Sicilians have a tradition with their family names, where the first-born girl is always named after the father's mother. Paul and Emma had all girls, so the first was named Maria after his mother, the second I feel was named after his father's mother, Josephine, but don't know anything about her. Lastly, after his mother and grandmother were taken care of, then the wife can name the next daughter after her mother, who was Margaret but on my mom's birth papers her name is really Margarita. They had no son's, so I was named Paula Gennaro after Paul Gennaro Mestretta.
I was raised by Pow as we called Paul and Mum, which was what we called Emma, his wife. I remember his cooking so well, because every Sunday he would cook all day and the whole street and more would show up for a good home-cooked meal.
I remember there was no running water at the time, but only well water, but later on, Paul had town water put in. He always grew a very big garden, which kept us supplied all winter from where it was kept in the root cellar. These were the best times of my life, while I was growing up and I miss him and his cooking, so very much.
I also found out that Sicilians have a tradition with their family names, where the first-born girl is always named after the father's mother. Paul and Emma had all girls, so the first was named Maria after his mother, the second I feel was named after his father's mother, Josephine, but don't know anything about her. Lastly, after his mother and grandmother were taken care of, then the wife can name the next daughter after her mother, who was Margaret but on my mom's birth papers her name is really Margarita. They had no son's, so I was named Paula Gennaro after Paul Gennaro Mestretta.
I was raised by Pow as we called Paul and Mum, which was what we called Emma, his wife. I remember his cooking so well, because every Sunday he would cook all day and the whole street and more would show up for a good home-cooked meal.
I remember there was no running water at the time, but only well water, but later on, Paul had town water put in. He always grew a very big garden, which kept us supplied all winter from where it was kept in the root cellar. These were the best times of my life, while I was growing up and I miss him and his cooking, so very much.
Paul was from the city of Salemi, Sicily, Italy. His father was Fredrick Gennaro and his mother was Maria (Scoliosis) Mestretta. Paul's sister told my mom that the real last name of the family was Gennaro and that they added Mestretta later. I think this is why all his children have the same middle name, Gennaro.
I also found out that Sicilians have a tradition with their family names, where the first-born girl is always named after the father's mother. Paul and Emma had all girls, so the first was named Maria after his mother, the second I feel was named after his father's mother, Josephine, but don't know anything about her. Lastly, after his mother and grandmother were taken care of, then the wife can name the next daughter after her mother, who was Margaret but on my mom's birth papers her name is really Margarita. They had no son's, so I was named Paula Gennaro after Paul Gennaro Mestretta.
I was raised by Pow as we called Paul and Mum, which was what we called Emma, his wife. I remember his cooking so well, because every Sunday he would cook all day and the whole street and more would show up for a good home-cooked meal.
I remember there was no running water at the time, but only well water, but later on, Paul had town water put in. He always grew a very big garden, which kept us supplied all winter from where it was kept in the root cellar. These were the best times of my life, while I was growing up and I miss him and his cooking, so very much.
I also found out that Sicilians have a tradition with their family names, where the first-born girl is always named after the father's mother. Paul and Emma had all girls, so the first was named Maria after his mother, the second I feel was named after his father's mother, Josephine, but don't know anything about her. Lastly, after his mother and grandmother were taken care of, then the wife can name the next daughter after her mother, who was Margaret but on my mom's birth papers her name is really Margarita. They had no son's, so I was named Paula Gennaro after Paul Gennaro Mestretta.
I was raised by Pow as we called Paul and Mum, which was what we called Emma, his wife. I remember his cooking so well, because every Sunday he would cook all day and the whole street and more would show up for a good home-cooked meal.
I remember there was no running water at the time, but only well water, but later on, Paul had town water put in. He always grew a very big garden, which kept us supplied all winter from where it was kept in the root cellar. These were the best times of my life, while I was growing up and I miss him and his cooking, so very much.
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