Carmela Maria Leone Favorito has seen it all. Born in San Nicola Italy in 1931, the third of eight children, a devastating earthquake caused her family to lose everything right before her birth. For the first year of her life, her family took shelter in a cave.

Growing up, Carmela's life was clearly one of hardship, but through it all, Carmela never lost sight of what was important to her: hard work, loyalty, and family. Carmela's Story, a memoir written painstakingly by Carmela with the help of family members, chronicles Carmela's life from when she was a young girl in Italy until she was in her mid-70's.