Return to Celenza: Our Stories
Many of our ancestors dreamed of returning to Celenza: its winding cobblestone roads, expansive green fields and warm community. Others made a new life for themselves in America and never looked back on the poverty and hunger. This small town, 5000 miles from where most of us live in America, where virtually no one speaks English, may seem entirely foreign to us at first glance. The amazing thing, however, is that over 100 years and 5000 miles can never break the bonds of family and friendship that perhaps we never knew existed. The Celenzani's love of their countrymen and women (paesani) has never waned. If you visit Celenza, you will know what it feels like to return home, to your home. These are the stories of some fellow descendants of Celenza Valfortore and their return "home." Tell us your story.
Dave's return to Celenza
"I travel a lot for my job and managed to reconnect with the Pettinicchi cousins, some of whom live in the UK, where I visit often for work. . . . Back in 2001 (just before 9/11), we arranged for my dad to join me in London. We flew with the UK cousins to Pescara then rented a car to Petrella Tifernina, in Molise, formerly a part of Abruzzi, to visit the Pettinicchi cousins. We spent 6 days with the family. During the visit, my dad and I thought we'd take a ride down to Celenza, which of course turned into a caravan, because all the Pettinicchi cugini had to come with us!!!"
"We parked in the piazza in the center of Celenza (beautiful views from everywhere, as you know), then walked to a small gift shop. A very nice young woman was behind the desk, and we asked if she knew of the Covelli/Torre family. My dad showed her a picture of one of his Covelli cousins, and she started crying. It was her father, who had recently passed away. What a coincidence to happen to run into our second cousin out of the blue. Well, the frenzy started all over town . . . cousins everywhere. In a span of about four hours, we visited at least six families and homes . . . and were stuffed full of food at each stop."
"We also went to city hall where the mayor himself showed us my grandmother's birth entry in the city record book."
"It was a short but memorable visit. I'm still in touch with one of my cousins, Nicola Torre, who is an artist and has a website of his own, with many watercolor paintings of Celenza."
Robert's return to Celenza
"I visited [Celenza] a couple of years ago and found it an incredibly charming town with beautiful people. My nonno's name must have been in honor of the church there, San Francesco. . . . Celenza grows olives, walnuts and the food is really terrific. I ate in a restaurant owned by Antoinetta who made by hand her own macaroni, olive oil and put together a meal that I'll long remember."
"My son, Gregory, and I drove across Italy and found Celenza Valfortore with the help of two really helpful policemen (who drove God knows how many kilometers to show us the correct way.) My son had a videocam and I hung out the window filming our trip up the mountain. It was March, cold, some very light snow horizontally following the wind. I must say that when we parked the car and I set foot on the cobblestones there, I began to cry. Knowing my grandparents were born there and I was seeing the same scene on my arrival that they saw on the day of their departure for America really touched my heart."
Gene's return to Celenza
Gene Traczyk was kind enough to share some memories of his return to his grandfather's town of Celenza. Gene's grandfather was Vincenzo Recchio (originally Recchia). Gene's grandmother was from "Carlantino," a sister town located very close to Celenza Valfortore. Her maiden name was "Poce".
"I first visited Celenza with my family in the late 70's while stationed for four years at Aviano AFB. I returned to Italy on vacation in (1987) [and] visited Celenza the second or third time. I remember arriving late at night (11-12 PM), and a wine festival was still going on. Thought everyone would have been sleeping. I stayed at my grandfather's brother's daughter and husband's home (Mr. Tony and Rose Gallo), if I remember correctly. The next day we met their two sons Michael and Daniel's family and had a wonderful time. Lots of laughter trying to make the family connections especially when my Italian language was very poor. It improved later. I also recall the evening town walks near . . . 'il punto,' 'the point.' This is where folks from the town (Celenza), gather in the valley, near a little stream, and pass each other walking back and forth stopping to discuss everything . . . includ[ing] family, politics, current events, news, or whatever. From my understanding, this is a fairly common practice in southern and many parts of Italy. . . . [H]owever, the biggest thing that impressed me about Celenza was how independent [and] hard working my family and the people from Celenza are and what a warm, fun-loving sense of humor they have."
"My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother a baker. He migrated to the US around 1905. He enlisted in the US Army when WWI broke out and was sent back to Europe to fight in the trenches. It took until my later [years] to realize the hardship and sacrifice he experienced. He settled and built a house in West Haven, Connecticut, which is still standing, worked for Armstrong Rubber Co. in West Haven for many years, and passed away when he was 85 years old. What a hard working, strong, and dignified man he was, despite not having a formal education. He lost a couple [of] fingers on one hand in machine accidents at work and could still play the accordion. . . . [A]s you can see I'm very proud of my Italian heritage and my family."