When Lola Rozzi immigrated to Reading as a young bride, she was determined not to leave her Italian heritage in her homeland of Ascoli Piceno, Italy. Lola met the love of her life, Lorenzo, in Italy. The two married on Aug. 22, 1960, and moved to Berks County in the early 1960s.

“She gave Italian lessons to my children,” Lola's longtime friend, Gino Candelori, 72, of Laureldale recalled. “We did re-enactments of the old times in Italy. She liked culture. She was strong about keeping the Italian culture alive.” Lola and Lorenzo lived in the Italian section of Reading on Third Street for a short time, and then moved to Laureldale, where they raised four children: Helen, 55; Stephen, 54; Paola, 52; and Christine, 51.