Elvira San Germano

Elvira was born and raised in Cervinara, Italy. She learned how to sew with nuns at the convent. Our parents were married in Italy and then our mother came to America in 1963. They settled in NYC near the United Nations. She loved seeing all the country’s flags. Our mother loved NYC. She said the kitchen was so small, she could clean the floor just by throwing the little towel on it and wiping it with her foot. They then moved to our mother’s beloved Smithtown, shortly after, where she worked from home as a seamstress. She and our father placed business cards in mailboxes and the word spread. She made many friends.

Nonna was very determined and passionate. She came from a small town in Italy, became a US citizen, learned how to speak English, learned how to drive, and had a small business doing what she loved.

But her biggest love was being a Nonna to Gianni. You could feel their love when they were together. One of her biggest joys was cooking for us and sitting around the table together. All our Mom needed was her family, and all we needed was her love, which we will cherish for the rest of our lives.