Nothing could stop their love, not even a world war. There was no significance to the date, May 9, 1943 – Mother’s Day that year – except that Jack Mascola was able to go on furlough that weekend to marry Emily. They had met before, but the first blush of romance happened at another wedding.

“Jack’s sister married my uncle,” Emily said. “I was bridesmaid at the wedding. This is when it started, then and there.” They were very compatible, Jack added. They were both Italian. They were both Roman Catholic. They were both working class. They met in October and married the following May at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Orange, New Jersey.