Celebrating a Century of Grace: Rocchina Liscio Turns 100
TORONTO – As Rocchina Liscio’s 100th birthday approaches on August 15th, it is fascinating to consider the habits that contribute to a long and graceful life. She still walks. She still cooks. She still has an incredibly active mind. She is still very funny.
People like to point out that “she’s never worked out a day in her life!”
True, but people who grow up on poor farms don’t “work out” since most of their existence is “working out.”
She was born in Panni, a small town in Puglia, home of Southern Italian sunshine and orecchiette. Her twin sister, Assunta, was the wilder one; her father put her to work in the fields for local landowners when Assunta was in the first grade, mostly to give him a break from trying to keep her in school. Rocchina made it to third grade before she too went to work in the fields alongside her sister. They both still walked the hour to school when they were not tending the fields.
The hard work was an early sign of Rocchina’s discipline, a quality that showed up throughout her life. Like the simple breakfast of an orange, half a banana, a homemade biscotti and coffee.
Discipline, a calm spirit – and a fantastic sense of humor. These were and remain the vital pieces of her life, evident to all who know her.
Rocchina Liscio from Panni met Leonardo Liscio, from the neighboring town of Monteleone. They would remain married for 65 years. Yes, they had the same last name! Rocchina’s mother had to prove to city officials they weren’t related – not because they were worried about genetics – but because related couples faced higher marriage fees.
They were married when she was just 16 and had her first of 6 children at the age of 17. Time moved fast back then, and quicker still when Lenny was drafted, leaving for the war before he could witness the birth of his first son, Anthony. Lenny was mostly stationed in Rome and Sardinia but there were still long stretches of time that would pass before Rocchina heard word of her husband’s safety. The war ended, and he was back in the hillsides of Panni with Rocchina and little Anthony, and Mike was born shortly thereafter. The family suffered the heartbreaking loss of another son, Vito, at only 10 months of age.
Canada needed workers following the end of World War II and, in September 1951, while Rocchina was pregnant with their only daughter, Mary, Lenny set sail for Toronto finding work with Miller Paving where he remained his entire working life. Rocchina followed in 1953, three kids in tow, enduring a rough week-long sea voyage.
Upon their arrival to Canada, Lenny finally got to meet his daughter for the first time.
They settled on Harvie Avenue in Toronto, where Rocchina stayed busy babysitting for local families and caring for her own. Two more sons, Rocky and Vito, were born in Canada.
The Liscio home was a revolving door for the many relatives who came to live with them for long periods of time. There was always a warm home and an even warmer dinner table waiting. Rocchina’s meatballs are legendary.
With so many people flowing in and out of the house, she had to stay organized. Perhaps that’s why Rocchina stuck to a dinner schedule. Chicken soup on Monday, pasta Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, Wednesday surprise, pasta and beans on Friday and roast chicken and potatoes on Saturday.
They’re Italian, after all!
In 1972, they moved to Ernest Avenue, where she still lives to this day with Mary.
She may have left those lush Italian fields as a little girl decades ago, but she’s just as disciplined in her movement all these years later. She’ll sit for a while. And then she rises regularly, to cook something, to do some minor chore, to visit the greenhouse or the garden to pick something where up until just a few years ago she was still planting a hundred tomato plants in the garden.
Like her mother before her, she says the funniest things. Sometimes, she doesn’t realize how funny they are – she’ll say something seriously, only to have those around her burst out laughing. Considering she’s been on Earth for 10 decades, it’s remarkable that while sitting around a table with her children and grandchildren, she often remembers facts or dates better than them.
She’s buried 3 children, and a husband of 65 years. And through all that, peace and love still emanate from her.
It’s enchanting to consider the magical pieces that build a life.
When asked her secret to longevity, Rocchina simply says, “I don’t know.” While we may never know the secret, she inspires us to find our own answers.
Here’s to a century of life, love, and laughter—happy 100th birthday, Rocchina!
Daniela Liscio (Grandaughter)
In the photo above, from left to right: children Vito (D.) Rocky, Tony, Mary and Mike (D.) with Rocchina; in the pic at the top, Leonardo and Rocchina in the years around 1941-42; here below, Rocchina today
