Blog 13: Family Research

What makes a house a home? In my opinion, a family makes a house a home. The memories that are created over the years, the picture frames and mementos, and the smell that acquires throughout the house makes a house a home.

Suffering and success can affect other family members in many ways. I think that both suffering and success will make a relative work harder. They either want to reach the same (or greater) success, or change the family name to something better known for success instead of suffering.

Traditions help define family because traditions are something that are passed are throughout just your family. It is something everyone has in common, even though relatives throughout the family may not be close.

Tedesco Family Research

A family is made up of traditions and memories. Souvenirs, tales and even homes are passed down through our relatives. In my family, names were passed down like a vintage varsity jacket. This started in 1896 when my great grandpa, Vincent Tedesco Sr. was born in Italy. He met a woman named Mary, married her, and they started a life together. In 1940, they moved to America. They settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where Mary and Vincent had a kid, who they named Vincent Jr. Vincent Jr. grew up to go to the military at the age of 19. He joined the navy, fought in combat, and was an excellent musician, but specifically preferred to play the saxophone in his free time.

The name Vincent, which is still being passed down in my family, means to conquer or to win. In my opinion, this name is very fitting. Vincent Jr. survived his service in World War II, and this is a great victory within itself. Vincent Sr. conquered the American Dream when he came to America. He started off of as a waiter in a small café, then made his way up to become a successful businessman during hard times. Vincent Sr. only went to school until the 3^rd grade. Not to mention, he didn’t know much of the English language when he arrived. But he conquered, and he won.

Vincent wasn’t the only name that was thrown around throughout the years. The name Mary is tagged with over 4 people throughout the last 3 generations. Vincent Jr. Tedesco married Evelyn Dewitte and they had a child named Mary Tedesco (who was named after Vince’s mom). Mary went to school up til high school, then had a kid at the age of 16, then again at the age of 18 with the same man, Ed Ayres.  Mary and Ed were married for many years, and then divorced. Ed went on to marry another Mary! Ed and Mary Ayres live only a few miles away from Ed’s ex-wife, Mary Tedesco, in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.

             However, the meaning of Mary is quite ironic in my family history. Mary is often tied with the Virgin Mary (in the bible) and it means abstinence. The irony in this is Mary Tedesco had a child at the ages of 16 and 18, with a man who she was not married to. Mary Tedesco was not abstinent, to say the least. Although I can say I am glad she wasn’t, because at the age of 16 she gave birth to my beautiful mom, Karen.

           The names Vincent and Mary are seen many times throughout my family. Whether they were fitting or ironic, these names carry a lot of history with them.

Works Cited:

"Ancestry Library Edition." Ancestry Library Edition. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

Personal Interview, Mary Tedesco by Haley Moses. January 5, 2016.

Personal interview, Karen Ayres Moses by Haley Moses. January 6, 2016