My Grandmother’s ‘Life’ After Retirement

      I did my environmental portrait on my grandmother,  Rose Marie Debonis. She was born May 21st, 1939 to Rafael and Carmela Marotta. Her childhood was spent around her family which she always happily reminices; when her parents and grandparents were alive. For most of her young life she lived on Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to my grandmother, ” in those days there were a lot of Italians.” If she wasn’t in Manhattan she was visiting her grandparents, Frank and Maria Cirella in Staten Island which was where most of her family lived at the time. When she was 18 she began to date my grandfather, Pete Debonis  and married him when she was 21 years of age. At the age of 25 she gave birth to my mother, Isabelle DeBonis who grew up in Queens and had three daughters; Jaclyn, Nicole and Samantha.

    Ever since the day I was born my grandmother has helped my parents no matter what was needed. As a result, she has always had authority in my house. She may live down the hall but she is like a third parental figure who not only gives us money but also offers my sisters and I sensible advice she hopes we take into consideration. Aside for caring for her three granddaughters she loves to take care of her “two [other] furry grandchildren”: Sephora and Thumper. In the past she has driven us to school, work, and to do errands. She has always cooked and cleaned not only for herself but for us too, “like a servant” as she always says. I appreciate my grandmother and love her for so many reasons I just hope I can give her what she has given me. Even so, I aspire to be like her someday and when I tell her that she says “well, start now then.”