When you think of a young girl “living her best childhood life,” you would probably picture a pretty “easygoing” lifestyle. For example, she could be riding her bike, going to fun places with her family, and making memories with friends. Well, things aren’t what they seem, and there are some people in this world who never got to experience that. That one person would be my great-grandmother Mafalda “Muffy” Limongi. She is just one story of many whose life drastically changed when her father decided America was the place he wanted his family to live to achieve the “American Dream.”

Muffy was born in 1913 in Carpineto Romano, Italy. Carpineto was a part of what people call “the boot.” She was like everyone else: she had a loving mother and father and three siblings: a brother, Tom, and two sisters, Louise and Jesse. Let’s change course a bit and think about what life was like for you at age eleven. You probably were in sixth grade, thinking about what you were going to do with your friends after school. For example, hanging out with friends, working on homework, and planning what you are wearing to school and who you are going to the football game with. But Mafalda was not worried about that at all when she was eleven. She was worried about starting a new life in a different country and how her life would change living in America.

Now, let’s flashback back to Muffy in 1924. She was only eleven years old when she left her mom and her older sister Louise in that small town of Carpineto Romano to sail to Ellis Island in New York City. Yes, I said sail. They sailed on a boat called Dante Alighieri. Dante Alighieri was an Italian ocean liner. Muffy’s father, Armedio (my great great-grandfather), thought it was a good idea to take her when she was 11, her brother when he was 15, and her other sister when she was 17, to the United States for a better life. When she and her two siblings left with their dad, her sister, Louise, who was only 21 at the time, stayed back with her mom. Her mother and sister were supposed to come to the United States and live as a happy family, fulfilling their American dream as well. Remember when I said things don’t always appear as they seem? Well, things don’t always work out how you think they would. But that story will be explained later.

When Muffy arrived in the United States, she needed a sponsor family. A sponsor family is a family that helps you when you want to become a United States citizen. Her sponsor family was from Niles, Ohio, and that was where they decided to settle. My great-grandfather and his three children thought that Niles, Ohio, would make the perfect place to settle. All seemed like it was going to be a smooth transition from the old country, and life here was going to be easy. But when they got to the United States, they never thought that they would have to get through so much. Mafalda and her family had to get through many tough situations to become citizens.

Muffy learned that to become a citizen (and get her green card), she would need an education. On her first day of school, at Lincoln Elementary in Niles, she found it quite embarrassing that she was in class with a bunch of first graders at the age of eleven. After spending two months in first grade, they moved her up into third grade. She still thought it was awkward, so she stopped going. As kids go through elementary school, they probably don’t even think twice about learning; they just do it because they speak the language. But imagine having to teach yourself all the important lessons kids learn in school. Muffy had to teach herself how to read, write, and speak in English by herself. In fact, as she was learning how to do everything and teaching herself, she never even spoke broken English. She must have been an excellent self-teacher! Just think, back then it was the mom in the household taking care and helping the kids. The dad would be the one at work and coming home so tired. Muffy missed out on that life where she could get help and guidance from her mom. Muffy had to figure everything out on her own.

Muffy had to do a lot that most teenage girls don’t do. What we call chores, Muffy called her job. For instance, she had to wash dishes, cook for her family, and help take care of her father. She had a pretty rough time doing all that by herself. She was only a teen, having almost the same responsibilities adults do. She also wasn’t getting the opportunities that teenage girls do now. She wasn’t in school, so she didn’t have many friends, and she wasn’t eligible for sports and clubs. Mafalda did what most teens dread doing every day. For example, taking care of her house by herself, keeping her dad healthy, and cooking meals for her and her family.

What would you do if you never got to see your mother and sister ever again? What if you left them at a young age and that was the last time you saw them? When Mafalda left Italy, she thought of course that she was going to get to see her mother and sister again; well, she didn’t.

Mafalda’s sister got married, had a husband and two kids after Mafalda left, and ended up having two more. Muffy’s mother stayed back in Italy to help with the kids and her daughter. That is why Mafalda never saw her mother and sister again. Mafalda’s dad would go back every year to see them so he could check in on his wife, his daughter, and now grandchildren. But the travel, stress, and probably expense got to him. He did see them though one more time before he passed away.

At the age of twenty, Mafalda met someone that she knew she would spend the rest of her life with. His name was Louis. They got married and had five children: Paul, Catherine, Patty, Louis, and Jim. Sometimes, her life as an adult got rough too, though. She did not have a driver’s license and had to find ways to get places, causing her not to be able to have a good job or do pretty much anything outside of her home. Muffy enjoyed making crafts and going to restaurants. She also loved fashion and loved putting outfits together. Her friends were important to her, and she liked doing a lot with them. As her kids grew up, she was always a supportive mother and did a whole lot for their sports, health, and education. Her children were her number one priority.

In 1986, Mafalda was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of 72. She was sent to the Cleveland Clinic and was going to get a routine heart procedure. Her family went with her and had a positive attitude, thinking she was just going into surgery for her heart and once she is done everything will be okay. They thought it would be a quick procedure and that they would get to take her home after. All of a sudden, about an hour later, the doctor came out of the surgery room and told her family that she was full of cancer. Everyone was devastated to hear the news. A week later, she passed away, and everyone, especially her children, didn’t know what they would do without their mother. They knew that they would miss all her stories, funny moments, and everything she would do for them.

This woman, Mafalda Gonnella Limongi, who happens to be my great grandmother, has inspired me with her story ever since I heard it from my family.  I never met her, and unfortunately she passed away before I was born, but I wish she was still here so I can hear her story in first person. It is interesting because I know there are so many stories out there about immigrants coming to America to achieve the American dream, and my family is certainly part of that tradition. Muffy’s dream was to have a family and be the best mother and wife, and she achieved just that. I only wish I was able to meet her and give her a big hug that most grand children do! I looked up the name Mafalda for fun just to see what her name meant. According to The Bump for baby names, its origin is Portuguese; its meaning is “mighty in battle,” and it went on to say, “Mafalda is the perfect name for your courageous little girl!” This couldn’t be closer to the truth when describing my great-grandmother; how perfect!