Fiora Matera

Her hands had the Midas touch, thanks to her time, as a young girl, she spent in the company of nuns at a local convent during and after WWII in war torn Southern Italy. Whether it be creating beautiful clothing from scratch including conceptualizing the patterns, embroidery, crochet, knitting, making wonderful food everything she touched was pure gold.

She met the love her life, Gino, at 19 and one look at that handsome ex soccer player city boy and her heart was his and his hers. Three days before she died, in a moment of clarity, she turned in her bed towards him, looked at him bright eyed, smiled that beautiful smile and whispered “my love”. That was the last words she uttered on this earth. They were together thru thick and thin, bad times and good for just 38 days short of the 60th wedding anniversary. In that time. They built a beautiful life in Italy, had three children; Lina, the oldest, Frank the favorite and Sal, the youngest of us all.

In 1970, they boldly and bravely moved to the States, not because of any hardships, because as I mentioned they had a beautiful life in Italy, but rather to give the 3 of us the very best opportunity to have an even better life than they did. They worked day and night and sacrificed so much for us, and we each were able to carve out good lives.

My mom, “la mamma” was so proud when we each graduated from High School and then college. That smile.... As our family of 5 expanded to 8 with the addition of my husband, Bob, Franks wife, Kerrie and Sal’s wife, Laura , her heart was even fuller with more family to love and cook for!!!

As much as she mastered the art of being a mother, she outdid herself as a grandmother.... NONNA was the best to her 3 grandchildren, Sean, Jamie and Zach. She loved to cook for them, spoil them with treats and love on them. I’m sure Zachy will never forget nonna and Gumpa’s Picking him up from nursery school and always having a plate of pasta and sauce! I don’t know who enjoyed themselves more.... Zach delighting in his pasta or mom and dad watching their littlest grandson gobble up all the rigatoni in his plate.

Mom and Dad moved to SC, 5 years ago and bought a home very close to Bob and me.

Although mom’s dementia was taking her from us day by day, I could still hugs her and every now and then I was the lucky recipient of that smile!