My mother was the youngest daughter to Carmella Malfitano LaRocca and therefore sister to Vivian's mother, my Aunt Josie. Aunt Josie and Aunt Rosie were actually born in Italy and got to make the long ship ride to New York when only children. Mom, however, wasn't born until 1920 after Grandma remarried my Grandpa LaRocca. My whole life I always heard how Aunt Josie who had Vivian in May of 1920 wasn't very happy that Grandma was pregnant with my mother at the same time as she was, but it must have turned out okay because most of the stories were always about how Grandma took care of both Vivian and Mom (born October 9, 1920)treating them more as sisters then as "aunt" and "niece". Vivian has reminded me many times that her best story was always that Mom was so short because Grandma would nurse her with half of the milk intended for my mother. I doubt that seriously but I do know they were closer then two sisters could ever be. Mom always said the worst time of her life was in business school when Viv would insist on calling her "aunt" Mary and not just Mary. Mom said it was worst when she would be talking to a guy then any of the other girls but Vivian was just proud that Mom was her Aunt that she wanted everyone to know. But as it came to be mom and Viv did everything together, went to school, dated, had kids, and relied on each other until the end. Because of the closeness that Viv and Mom had, Viv was ALWAYS there for me, my "aunt" and way more then just my cousin. Since my mom passed in 2006 Viv was my rock and I cherish every momment we spent talking each week. In the end she made me feel my mom was still with me and she is going to be missed just as much if not more. She was surrounded by love from her family and every person she ever knew because she was the most loving, caring person I ever knew. She was very proud of her children, her grandchildren and now her two great grandchildren. You all made her life worthwhile and you gave her back the same levels of love that she gave to all she met. Our prayers are with you and now it is up to all of us "cousins" to remember all the stories tha Vivian made sure she told us in the history of our family, her most important title would have to be Our Family Historian. We can't let her down now!