The object that is most important to me is my 5th great-grandmother’s rosary. My great-grandmother, Maria Shaira, was born in Ireland in 1841. She and her husband William Smith immigrated to the United States in 1860. The rosary was a gift to my great-grandmother from her parents when she was born. The rosary was made in Italy. On the one medal it reads that it was from the catacombs of Italy. The catacombs are an ancient burial place located under the city of Rome. When my great-grandmother moved to America, it was the one thing she made sure to bring with her. She passed her rosary on to her son, who passed it to his son Joesph. Jospeh passed it to his daughter, who then passed it to her granddaughter, and my mom in 1980. It is very delicate so we keep it protected. It amazes me that we have an object that was made in the 1800s and travelled from Italy to Ireland and then to my families new home, New York.

– Chaya Bearstler

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more