Janos’ Mother
Moments before dying the nurse gave her a dose of morphine to ease the transition. Janos stood by, holding her hand as the drug loosened the vestige of tension that held her frail flesh.
Her eyes met his and a tiny flicker of a smile came across her lips. The wrinkled hand withdrew from his, lifted above her chest came down with force on her heart. Twice and then again. “Stop” she commanded.
Rosalie Emanualina Vallone
As the youngest girl in a strict Sicilian family of five boys and three girls it was her charge to attend to her mother stricken with iron deficiency anemia and bed ridden. Rose was 13 when her mother died. Now she would attend the meals and care of her father and siblings. Their combined employment and income was sufficient to sustain the basic necessities of a large home in South Buffalo.
By 1935 the older brothers and one sister had married. Papa Vallone sold the house and bought a smaller one in the ‘suburbs’. The patriarch retired in 1937 and died soon after from a stroke while walking to get cigarettes. Brother Bernie took charge of the family. Rose got a job jerking sodas at a drug store chain and met her future husband who delivered ice cream on Tuesdays and Fridays.
For Janos, the only child of a Sicilian mother, whose life had centered on caring for others, unconditional love, was inevitable. Showered with affection from Rose, the boy was raised with a mother’s love and a father’s indifference.
Although her formal education ended in the sixth grade, she felt that the boy she called Gianni had a spark of something that needed to be recorded. On pink paper she typed a rudimentary biography that was found among her belongings after she died. They are included here intact. without edit or changes of any kind:
1940
One year old. Tho he couldn’t understand ,we would sit by the hours reading nursery ryhams. Come bed time as long as I would sing 3 songs, “ School days, Rock-a-by-baby, and than hum The Skater’s Waltz, He would go to sleep. At birth he wieghd 9 lbs. Height 27in. That’s apretty big baby for little me, So at one year old he was a big baby to hold.To top it off a livelyr baby There was none. He always wanted to dance There I was with Gianni bouncing up and down, up and down.
1940
At the age of 2 Gianni was the center of attraction for his brilliance and personality He carried a tune perfect, and knew the words to several songs, such as Chatanooga Chu-Chu. No baby talk for him, every word as clear as a bell.
1941
At the age of three his talent for music was improving. As long as he had the radio going and a ball in his hand he was happy. He could spell his name and reciet avery nursery rhym in the book. His favorit being “Taffy was a Welchmen”
1942
At the age of 4 he lived on La Force PL. the street his dad was born on. This was a tough year for Gianni. He got all of his chield hood sicknesses such as Mumps,meazels chickin pox And to top it off His tonsils were removed. Than he developed cronic appendicts.Dr.said he may outgrow them.
1943
Gianni started school in Sept. of this year. Lindberg Elementry School. Living on Nassau in Kenmore, N.Y. His playmate and school chum was Wilma?? His first day of school was a happy day for him. In fact I felt a little hurt because most of the kids were crying because their mothers left them. But not Gianni. He happily waved and said “ By momie see you later” and turned to one of the little girls to comfort her.
1944
Five years old, in first grade. His pal at the time was uncle John D. What times they had together. Gianni turned out to be a very poor eater. I had all I could do to get him to drink milk. His favorit lunch was creamed eggs on toast He was a great companion to me. He would wipe the dishes and together we would sing. His harmoney was perfect. He got pnumonia this year and was a very sick boy.
1945
Six years old and full of vim and viger. Good at his school work. Reading fairly well. Reading Comic’s was his favorit pass time. His hight was 53 in. and weighed 53 lbs. Getting better looking every year.
1946
Seven years old. We moved to Californi9a. A lot of changes for Gianni. He enterd 3rd grade at Willard School, in San Gabriel he got his first byke. And He was getting aquainted with new friends. He liked California right from the start. It took him a year to get himself in cerculation and adjusted.
1947
At 8 years old and in the 4th.Grade He made the Pee Wee base ball team. Of course he sat on the bench for several months. However he was so very happy thinking some day he would be on the field playing. He never failed attending a game, wether it was a practice or a real one.
