Yiayia's Journey Part 5
In 1935, my grandparents began to settle into their new life in the bustling
town of New Kensington, Pennsylvania after emigrating from Greece. What a
strange new world my grandmother Yiayia discovered - one where
people traveled by car, train, and boat and in which her donkey 'Keecho' would
have no place. So like other immigrants, Yiayia and Papou struggled to adapt
and relied on their faith, religion, and incredible work ethic to survive the
Great Depression.
Papou toiled at 'The Busy Bee' restaurant. Yiayia maintained home and hearth,
struggling to learn English from neighbors as she cared for now toddler
Chrysanthy.
It was a supremely lonely and uncertain time, but she found guidance and solace from other immigrants at their local Greek Orthodox Church. But the biggest comfort of all -- the blessing of another beautiful baby girl. My grandparents joyfully baptized her 'Damiani', naming her after Yiayia's beloved mother. Such an honor perhaps eased the pain of leaving her behind in Kythera.
It was a supremely lonely and uncertain time, but she found guidance and solace from other immigrants at their local Greek Orthodox Church. But the biggest comfort of all -- the blessing of another beautiful baby girl. My grandparents joyfully baptized her 'Damiani', naming her after Yiayia's beloved mother. Such an honor perhaps eased the pain of leaving her behind in Kythera.
But when baby Damiani turned 8 months old, something was
terribly wrong. A metabolic or digestive problem made eating and drinking
almost impossible. They desperately sought the help of several doctors, even
traveling to a more advanced hospital in Pittsburgh. Feeling helpless and
afraid, Yiayia struggled to plead with doctors who spoke a language she didn't
understand. But ultimately no cure could be found in that day. Baby Damiani
would depart on May 8th, 1936, leaving my grandparents devastated.
Grief-stricken, my Papou would lovingly craft the gravestone himself. And over the years, his future son - my father - would return to that New Kensington cemetery again and again to restore that decaying little gravestone. To this day, my Yiayia still can't talk about Damiani. But she possessively cherishes a fading baptismal certificate -- a testament that a mother's devotion is eternal. As the Greeks always say - may her memory be eternal. And it truly is.
Papou at baby Damiani's gravesite in New Kensington, PA.
Grief-stricken, my Papou would lovingly craft the gravestone himself. And over the years, his future son - my father - would return to that New Kensington cemetery again and again to restore that decaying little gravestone. To this day, my Yiayia still can't talk about Damiani. But she possessively cherishes a fading baptismal certificate -- a testament that a mother's devotion is eternal. As the Greeks always say - may her memory be eternal. And it truly is.
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