Belarmino was a farmer, like all the residents of Romeno in that time.
They lived in Romeno, where they raised 8 children: 5 boys and 3 girls.
4 of their sons immigrated to the USA.
It must have been heartbreaking for Candida to see her sons leave their home, their country, their parents. Only one son, Celeste, their three daughters remained in Austria, now Italy.
Gioele, their first born child immigrated to the USA and then returned to Romeno, where he married and had his family.
Their son Candido died in the USA in 1910, the result of mining conditions in Leadville, Colorado in that era. Candido's young daughter also died within a few months of his death. It must have been very difficult for parents in Austria to lose a son who had moved so far away.
The worst was yet to come: During the last 20 years of her life, Candida suffered the loss of 5 more of her children. By the time she died at age 86, 6 of her 8 children had preceeded her in death.
We all suffer loss and when we do, we experience the most desperate and hollow feeling which we are sure we will never get beyond. We know there are some who suffer more than others. When one considers the magnitude of losses Candida Zucal Graiff was forced to endure during her life, you have to pause.......
She must have been an incredibly strong woman!!
