War Is Just Another Day

Genny, named Gentian Alpina de Luise, was born in Naples, Italy. Since her parents, Vera, an English woman, and Peppino de Luise, an Italian civil engineer, were mountain climbers, she was given the name of an Alpine flower. At the outbreak of WWII, her life changed dramatically. In 1940, while on vacation, her mother was interned in the Abruzzi mountains because of her British nationality. The family found themselves trapped with her except for their father who had to remain in Naples. In October, 1945, she went to England to complete her education, returning to Naples during the summers until 1953 where she stayed and studied languages. In 1955, she worked as a translator and secretary. She spent the year of 1957 in Lusaka, Zambia, where her half-brother, a major in the British Army, was stationed. She met Jon, U.S. Air Force, in 1957, married a year later, and in June 1960, moved to Washington. Their family grew to include three sons. They moved to Oregon, Ohio, and finally DeKalb, Illinois, as her husband pursued his university career. While their sons attended high school and college, she worked for the State of Illinois Social Services overseeing the welfare of families with dependent children.