Nana Biography

We were there when John Kennedy was assassinated, and our maid heard it on the radio, and came tearing in and told us about it, and she was crying, and we sat and turned on the radio and waited until we heard the news that he was really dead. And then less than 24 hours we received invitations to come to a service that were printed, and we don’t know how this all happened, but we got a black edged invitation to come, and it was held not in Saint Peter‘s, but the second biggest – San Giovanni, I think. 

So I had to go and buy a veil. We got to the shopping area, where the outdoor market was, and I was known there because I was an American, and everybody in this place came up and embraced me, one by one, streaming tears. It was the most emotional thing. I went into the store to buy a veil and the man pulled one out and handed to me and refused to take any money. I said, “oh please “ and no. Absolutely more people were at that service than attended the one in Washington. The president of Italy was there, all of the Italian army that was available in their full dress on black horses, you have never seen anything like this ceremony, and all were crying. And they had a casket with an American flag on it, how they got that together, and that length of time, I don’t know. We went in and sat in a very special place, all the American people living in Rome had a special place to sit, every theater and every state function and most of the private parties were cut off for one month. I mean, Italy went into mourning.

I don’t think that happened here.

No, they really love that man, and they really loved his wife. Jackie, Jacqueline Kennedy, was the essence of glamour to them and their little children, and of course we all watched an on television, so I I will never forget being among those people, having them feel that way about us. it was nice.

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