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Donata Breggia Di Biase of Portland, Maine, who
emigrated from Lettomanoppello more than 80 years ago, celebrated her
110th birthday in December 2000! At left is a 1995 photo of her with
her 90 year-old daughter Orienta (with whom she lives) standing behind
her. Seated next to Mrs. Di Biase is her great-grandnephew Mario Di
Biase of Lettomanoppello, a photographer. Next to Mrs. Di Biase's
sister is Marcella Mariani, the wife of Mario Di Biase. At the right
end is Genero, whose last name and relationship are unknow - can anyone
tell us?
(Photo and newspaper article below provided by
Marcella Mariani and Mario Di Biase; the photo was taken during their 1995
honeymoon visit to the US)
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LETTOMANOPPELLO - In the category of Abruzzese
centenarians, the place of honor surely belongs to Donata Di Biase, who
was born in 1891 and who emigrated to America more than 80 years
ago. In December (2000) the supernonna of the Maiella, who lives in
Portland with her 90 year-old daughter, will celebrate 110 years - a
milestone at which Donata has arrived in good health, and without giving
up the habits of a lifetime. Her last visit to Lettomanoppello was
35 years ago, but her connection to her hometown has continued
uninterrupted. Mario di Biase, great-grandnephew of the centenarian,
and his wife Marcella, went to find her six years ago during their
honeymoon. An unforgettable experience for the Di Biases.
Mario, a professional photographer, photographed in a thousand poses the
more-than-one-hundred-year-old aunt of his grandfather, while sharing her
memories of her distant youth: the places of home, the names of relatives,
her passion for crocheting. Like an old film. It was a little
after the end of World War I when Donata and her husband, a stonemason
from Scafa, decided to leave Lettomanoppello in search of their fortune
overseas. An undertaking which was, at that time, shared by many in
the town of stonecarvers and the surrounding area. The beginning of
a new life in a big city, and, after a few years, tragedy: "Her husband"
-recounts Marcella Di Biase - "died in a traffic accident the same day
that their second son was born." And so Donata found herself alone,
with three children to raise. She became a seamstress, a trade she
had learned in the old country, and which - like crocheting - she had
never forgotten. |
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