Throughout life’s journey we are blessed to come upon people who teach us, laugh with us and love us. Jack and I were fortunate to meet and live next door to such a person. Vittoria Pesce was a beacon of light, knowledge and unmitigated kindness.
We met her about sixteen years ago, but feel like we have known her forever. In the spring of 2015, Jack and I sold the family farm in New Jersey quicker than we imagined and found ourselves quasi homeless. My Pontelandolfese cousin, Carmela, had an idea. For a few months, why didn’t we rent the furnished duplex owned by Vittoria’s family.
When we arrived, Vittoria and her grandson, Nicola, embraced us as family. From that first day on, that is just what we were – family. We loved the place and we loved them so much we have lived here for sixteen years.
On October 4, 2026, Vittoria left us and we are saddened by her passing. The entire community came out to pay homage to the woman who took care of so many children, helped people in need, shared the yield of her fields of produce and smiled broadly. People came to the house to see her laid to rest in her bed on the sheets of her grandmother. They embraced Nicola and his sister Michelina and looked at Victoria with love and sadness. The following day, the church was full for her funeral. The paese came to honor their “Zia Vittoria.”
It has taken us a few days, but we also have been remembering some of her antics and giggling. “Midgiiieeeeee, Midgiieee” she would shout as she entered our half of the house. (There is an adjoining door that is never locked.) Holding a huge platter of some just cooked delicious morsels she would tell me it was for Jack. Smiling she would plop the platter on the table and an instant cooking class would begin. The recipe section of Nonna’s Mulberry Tree is a real tribute to the cooking of Vittoria Pesce!
Fuori di Zucca Fritta – fried squash blossoms were a treat that she knew no matter how many times I watched her do it, I would screw up. Zia Vittoria, in honor of you I will try again. But they won’t taste the same.
How Many Bags of Fava Beans are There? When they popped out in the garden, Zia popped into our house and cajoled me into cooking them. She also cajoled me into visiting the garden, taking a walk, putting our clothes not in the dryer but on the line and listening to tales of Pontelandolfo long ago.
Her tales of Pontelandolfo resonated with me. She lived in a Contrada, high in the mountains. Everyone knew each other, helped each other and partied hearty with each other. It was hard work and sometimes a difficult life but out of that Contrada came a woman who was working her garden until just recently. Not only working her garden but protecting her “village.” One early evening, I was up on the second floor in my office, oblivious to everything. Jack was out somewhere. Suddenly, hearing screaming and metal banging, I leaped up and ran to the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was the fierce warrior holding a hoe and bellowing. This little woman in her fourth act was challenging the thief to come downstairs and go head to head with her. I cried, I laughed, she laughed when she realized I was the thief. A little backstory, a few years earlier when we weren’t here, our place was robbed. the dummies just made a mess but didn’t get anything because when we are in New Jersey we take everything with us. She heard me typing and on a zoom call. Thinking we were gone – the car was gone and the first floor lights were out – she charged in to catch the thieves!
In her 80s, she was up at the crack of dawn, hanging laundry on the line and raising her eyebrows at Jack and I at the patio table sipping coffee and barely able to function. Speaking of lines, a line strung on the veranda was used to process zucchini for the winter! Who knew that a little sun would dry out the zucchini and make it perfect for an agri-dolce canning treat. Who knew that a woman in her fourth act would still be canning!
Rings on a line, the ring of life, a life made richer and fuller by Victoria Pesce. She will be missed but will stay with us everyday.
Ci Vediamo,
