As an author, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of Italian Americans at book signings. It’s always my pleasure to chat with these fine people. I enjoy their family tales and always encourage them to tell the stories of their immigrant ancestors to their children and grandchildren to help preserve the memory of the incredible accomplishments of their forebears. That’s not to say that only Italian immigrants had it rough. The opposite is true: All new arrivals struggle and immigration is still a challenge today. I write about Italian immigrants and speak to groups about them coming to …

La Signora Vincenza Tomasello and her five daughters were busy shopping, baking and preparing their home for visitors on a very special day, a truly glorious day. The women were thrilled because it was March 19 — St. Joseph’s Day — but it was so much more than that. The year was 1946, World War II had finally ended and their men were home at last. The Tomasello women were preparing for their annual St. Joseph’s Table, and every detail had to be perfect. Three tiers tall and topped with a statue of San Giuseppe, the table would be laden …