GAIL WHITE Birthdays are occasion to celebrate family

Emilia "Millie" Sloan of Austintown celebrated her 70th birthday April 23.
Carol Shannon of Austintown turned 80 years old March 21.
Today, Antoinette "Toni" Bentfeld of Sebring is 90 years young.
The two decades that span the births of these three women brought many changes to their personal lives. But one thing has always remained the same -- family.
Millie, Carol and Toni are sisters. They are three siblings of 10 from the first-generation Italian-American family of Cua.
"There was only one child born between me and Toni," says Carol. Brother Mario is two years older than Carol.
"Why such a long time between you and Mario?" I ask Toni.
The story of the Cua family's journey to America emerges.
Antonio Cua came to America with his father when he was 14 years old. They worked in a mine in Pennsylvania for more than five years.
Antonio returned home to the little mountain village of Careri in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. He fell in love with Concetta, a beautiful young lady from the village.
In 1912, the couple had a child, Antonia Caterina, whose name was later changed to Antoinette (Toni) in America.
Antonio then returned to the U.S. to earn enough money to send for his wife and daughter.
Joining Antonio
Seven and a half years later, Antonia and her mother boarded a large boat called "The America."
"I do not remember the Statue of Liberty," Toni says. "I remember my father. He came to see us off the boat. I was afraid of him. I did not know him."
Concetta had struggled for some time about leaving Italy.
"My grandmothers did not want us to go," Toni recalls. "They begged us to stay. They wanted my father to come back to Italy. But he had fallen in love with America."
Toni remembers Italy well. "We had much extended family -- always aunts and uncles and cousins at the house."
Carol responds, "We never had that."
Though relatives were across the ocean, the Cua home became a haven for new immigrants.
"There was always room for more," Millie says. "People always had a place to stay."
"The sauce was always on the stove," Toni smiles.
Carol adds, "And the coffee pot."
Growing family
Once in America, the Cua clan began to grow.
First Mario, then Carol came along, followed by Mary, Sam, Helen and Pat.
"The first diaper I changed was Pat's," Carol laughs as she remembers. "Then it became my job. I changed them all after that!"
"Everybody helped," Toni explains. "Everybody did what had to be done. No complaining."
After Pat came Rose, Millie and Frank.
"I grew up with all their kids," the 70-year-old Millie explains.
The sisters reminisce about the wonderful times they shared.
"There was one apple on this tree in our yard," Carol remembers. "Mom would chase us away if we got too close to it."
"When it was ripe, she cut it into 10 pieces and gave us each a piece," Millie recalls.
Concetta died when Millie was 13 years old. "I didn't have her as long as you," she tells her sisters.
Laughing, Millie remembers cooking 5 pounds of spaghetti after she first got married. "That's what Mom always did!"
Still close
Today, all 10 of the children of Anthony and Concetta Cua are alive and well, living across the country.
The siblings and their families get together twice a year. A picture from last year's July picnic reveals a clan of more than 70.
Under the picture is written, "Family ties are lasting bonds woven in each heart that keep a family close in thought, together or apart."
As each of these sisters celebrate "milestone" birthdays this year, they laugh at the fuss. "When we're together, there's no age," Toni smiles. "We're family."
gwhite@vindy.com