The later Italian immigrants came from southern Italy, Homer points out. They did not form a community with the Italians who were already here. Instead, they went to mining towns and formed their own communities.

Though many of the later arrivals were Catholic, the Catholic Church did not solidify the Italian community in the same way that the Greek Orthodox Church drew the Greek immigrants together, Homer says. There were so many Catholics from Ireland in Utah, and there were so many Catholics from Germany or other places. He welcomes Ferragosto as a chance to celebrate a common heritage with people he hasn't celebrated with before.

As for Margaret Besso, being Italian means honoring her father's kindness. She respects the memory of a man who was honest and worked hard and was incredibly proud that all three of his daughters graduated from college.

Besso still understands Italian, all these years later. But she never learned to speak it. She does, however, do a nice imitation of her father's accent.

She captures something of his humor when she repeats the words he used to say every time someone asked him his age. Besso imitates his wry smile along with his accent as she says, "Tirty-nine, pretta soona 40."

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