Written by: Lucia Ausman
Written about: Angela Furfaro
Date Published: November 2nd, 2025.
Table of Contents
Introduction
For this project, I interviewed my Nonna to learn more about her life and what it was like coming to Canada from Italy. The purpose of this oral history was to collect her story as part of our family’s history and to better understand what life was like for Italian immigrants during the 1950s when my Nonna came over. My Nonna’s name is Angela Furfaro and she was born in San Giorgio, Calabria. She came to Halifax in 1955 on the ship La Saturnia with her husband my Nonno, and their two eldest children. After arriving, she moved to Toronto to live in Little Italy, where she raised her family and made her home. I did the interview over the phone from Brantford ON while she was in Toronto, and my mom, Cathy Ausman, translated for me because my Nonna mostly speaks Italian. We talked about her journey to Canada, her first memories when she arrived, and what it was like raising children here. She also told me what she misses most about Italy, the things she loves about Canada, and how she feels looking back on her life now. Doing this interview helped me feel closer to her and appreciate everything she went through to give her family a better life.
The Interview link
Translation
Because this interview was conducted in Italian, I have made a full translation of the interview:
- What first brought you to Canada?
People were saying Canada was a beautiful place and there was work here. In Italy there was no work and life was hard. Everyone was leaving to find something better.
- Were you already acquainted with anyone in Canada before you arrived?
My father was already here and my sister and brother too.
- Where did you first arrive and when?
We came to Halifax in 1955.
- How did you get here?
We left from Naples on a ship called La Saturnia. I think it was February 19 and we arrived March.
- Who did you come with?
I came with your Nonno and our two kids Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary.
- How old were you when you immigrated and where were you from?
I was twenty two years old and from San Giorgio Calabria.
- What was the journey to Canada like?
It was long and hard. We were poor so we stayed in the bottom part of the ship under the water. Nonno could not stay with us at first because the men and women were separate. I got seasick and could not take care of the kids so we paid extra so he could stay with me. Aunt Mary brushed my hair every day to help me feel better.
- What do you remember of your first impression of Canada? Did you face any obstacles?
The snow. I remember all the snow. The day after we came I went for a walk and I thought what am I doing here. I cried every night for a year. I walked down a lane and saw garages and thought they were houses. I said oh my God look at these horrible houses why did we come here. We also did not understand the streetcar. We got off too early and had to pay again. But the people were nice. The Canadians were nice and the neighborhood we lived in first was mostly Jewish and they were very kind to the new Italian families.
- Did you bring any items of importance with you when you came to Canada?
We brought a big chest, it was full of bedsheets and tablecloths and linens. People used to hide salami in them and I did too. We had to go through customs in Naples and again in Halifax. They would take things away if you were not allowed to bring them but I hid the salami and got it through.
- What was your experience giving birth in Canada as a new immigrant?
When I gave birth here they treated me like a queen. I stayed in the hospital for eight days. When Uncle Tony was born he was so small not even two pounds. He stayed in an incubator for two months. It cost forty dollars a day and someone helped me pay for it. They treated me very well.
- What did you do with your children for fun here?
When you kids were little we lived in a neighborhood where all the cousins were together. We were always in the backyard. I used to yell at you all for fun and laugh. On Easter Monday we did Lipa Scooney. Everyone came to the backyard and brought food. It was another reason to eat and be together.
- Did you exchange letters with relatives in Italy?
Yes I wrote letters to my aunt and to Nonno’s brother’s wife. Sometimes we would send five or ten dollars if we had extra money.
- Where is home for you and why?
Canada is home now because this is where my life is but I will never forget Italy. When I was in the hospital I kept seeing my house in Italy in my mind. I could not picture my house on Manning anymore but I could still see my house in Calabria clear as day.
- Looking back on this experience is there anything you would have done differently?
If I could do it all again I would not do it the same way. Everything was about money. Now Italy is beautiful and life is good there. My brother stayed in Italy. He moved north and had a good life. Maybe that is what I should have done.
- Is there anything further you would like to add?
We still had good times here. The men played cards in the backyard and I cooked for them. There was always food and family around. My niece Giovanna calls me from Italy and says she is scared that when I am gone you will lose touch with the family. I told her that one day you will come and meet everyone and keep the family together.
Analysis
My Nonna story connects to what we learned in class about Italian immigration and the experience of families who came to Canada after the war. She talked about how people were leaving Italy because there was no work and no support for their families. Like many others, she and my Nonno just wanted a better life for their children and we’re willing to start over somewhere new. What I didn’t expect to hear was how hard it was for her to adjust to Canada when she first arrived. She said she cried every night for a year because she missed home so much. The cold weather and not knowing English made everything harder and even the small things like not even knowing how to use the street car made it even more confusing.
I was happy to learn that the people here were kind to her when moving and that it helped her feel more welcome and less alone. Even though she moved across the world, her Italian traditions stayed alive in Canada. She continued to cook the same things that she did in Italy and celebrate the same traditions that she did there to stay connected to her roots. She kept the tradition of the San Martino festival which is a festival celebrating the new wine of the season, every long weekend in September we would get together and everybody had a task in making tomato sauce, later in September all of the Nonno’s would gather together to collect all of the grapes they had grown and get them ready to ferment, and my personal favourite was our Easter festival when everyone from our family would come together and have a big garage party. My Nonna was able to find a way to live between two places and still feel connected to both while being able to make a better life for her five children. Even though she was able to love Toronto as her home for almost 70 years, she still believes that Italy is where she belongs.
Reflection
Doing this interview helps me feel very close to my Nonna. I’ve always known parts of her story but hearing everything from her own words help me to understand what her life was really like. She was a very brave woman to move across the world at only 22 years old with two children and had no idea what to expect. I know she misses home, and I understand why she does, but I am proud of her for being able to completely change her life for the sake of her family. There was a lot of love and sacrifice that went into building our families life here, even when things were hard she found joy in simple things like cooking for everyone and spending time with her children. My Nonna always reminded us that keeping traditions alive are the only things that keep us connected to Italy now. This project has showed me why it matters to record family history. If I had not done this interview, I would not have known about the struggles that my Nonna went through when she moved here. I’m also glad that my mom was able to translate the story for me and keep the language running in our family. Although I was not born in Italy myself, I am very proud of where my family did come from. My Nonna went through a lot to give us a life we have now and I could not be more appreciative of her.
Image Gallery
The following photos were all given to me by my Nonna to share her life story through imagery.
Bibliography
All photographs included have been approved for sharing from the private collection of Angela Furfaro.