Episode #38 - Erin Davis & Doug Robinson sit on the virtual green bench with Anna Piccoli and daughter Franca Smith to continue the conversation on our theme of connection, family, and service.

Anna lives with her husband of 62 years, Aldo, and her sister Josephine at The Village of Glendale Crossing in London, Ontario.

"I love everybody, especially my children and my grandchildren ...  and nobody smokes." -Anna Piccoli

Anna left Italy to live with her sister Josephine in Canada.  While writing back and forth with Aldo for a year, she convinced him to come over to Canada and got married.

Why Canada?  Tony and Josephine moved to London, Ontario as there were lots of job opportunities.  As more family arrived in Canada, the whole family stayed close in the same neighbourhood.

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city” - George Burns

What is your favourite Italian dish to cook/eat?

Anna's answer - Lasagna.

She continues to cook at The Village of Glendale Crossing with the recreation team.

Il pane apre tutte le bocche

Everyone gives Anna yarn so that she can crochet items for them.

Franca shares about the Art Show: Home and Away, asking local artists to share their art about where they came from and what brought them to Canada asking the question which felt like home and which felt like away.

Interested in getting a book?  Reach out to [email protected] and we will connect you with Franca.

"Family comes first. Everything revolves around family, and food."  -Franca Smith

"When you learn about where your family came from and what they have been through to get us to where we are.  It is quite amazing." -Franca Smith

Anna shares scary memories from being 14 years old and living through the war. Her uncle understanding the German language supported them to be able to get away as they jumped home to home to survive.

Grazie

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The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions