Both my paternal grandparents (Zema and Bitonti) and both of my maternal grandparents (Amicucci and Ciampaglia) immigrated from Italy in the early part of the 20th century. They came to this country in search of a better life for their families. They worked in the mines and the mills of Western Pennsylvania for long hours and little pay. They survived the loss of spouses and young children and the great depression, during which my paternal grandmother's small family-owned store went out of business. They fought in wars and they watched their sons go wars. Their's was a life with few, if any luxuries. Yet, they raised loving children and grandchildren and instilled them with a pride and love for the "Old Country". But, most importantly they taught us the meaning of the word "family" and that is what this page is about.

• Gary Zema's Family Tree (78 KB)
  Zema, Bitonti and Amicucci, Ciampaglia families

Gary Gene Zema
garyzema@cs.com

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