When I began writing Between the Sauce, Stars and Heaven, I thought I was simply preserving memories of growing up in a small Italian-American town. What I discovered was that each story — from the kitchen table to the church pew to the neighborhood porch — held a deeper lesson about faith, family, and resilience.
I wrote about my Uncle Angelo, a rogue with a mischievous streak, who once “pickpocketed” my father during a porch visit, only to toss his wallet back with a grin and the words, “Thanks, brother. I love you.”
I told of my grandfather, who arrived from Carpino, Italy in 1907 with just $12 in his pocket and a heart full of faith. His journey through Ellis Island — and even the changes to our family name that happened there — became the foundation for generations of love, sacrifice, and opportunity in Netcong, New Jersey.
And I shared the most personal story of all: my near-death experience after a sudden heart attack, when I was clinically dead for 12 minutes before being revived. That moment changed everything for me — how I see life, how I love my family, and how I measure success.
That experience was even featured on the national TV show Call 911. You can watch the reenactment here: https://t.ly/lSY-H/call911 or by scanning the QR code image attached to this email, which you’re welcome to use in social posts, graphics, or handouts.
These stories aren’t just mine. They belong to anyone who’s ever sat at a family table crowded with food and laughter, to anyone who’s found strength in faith during loss, and to anyone who’s wondered how the struggles of those before us shaped the lives we live today.
My hope is that readers will see their own families, traditions, and journeys reflected in these pages — and be reminded that even in hardship, life is rich with grace and meaning.
Between the Sauce, Stars and Heaven is more than a memoir. It’s a reminder that our stories matter, that our roots keep us grounded, and that faith and family can carry us through anything.
Lou Basenese Jr
