My ancestors!

My Family History is quite intense. I am fortunate to have my Italian grandmother, Filomena Gallo, still alive. She enlightened me on my heritage on my mom’s side of the family. 
My great grandparents were born in Naples, Italy as Pasquale Gallo and Maria DelPiriori. When they were in their late teens they were forced into an arranged marriage by their parents. While in Italy they had two children and decided to immigrate to the United States in 1929. All their families were still in Italy but they wanted to find a better life for their children. In Italy they lived and owned farms with their parents and created lived off the land for their survival. They did not sell the produce from the farms but traded their goods with other farmers. They decided to move to America because they heard so much about the great land of opportunity. 
My great grandparents arrived in Ellis Island in November of 1929. There is currently a large photograph at the Ellis Island tourist center with my Grandmother and her two daughters, Angelina and Rosalina. They kept the name Gallo because it was easy to pronounce and translated well in English. When my great grandfather arrived he became a janitor for 20 buildings. He worked hard and his dream was to own some apartment buildings of his own. He saved his money and was able to buy two brownstone apartment buildings in Brooklyn. Each building had 8 apartments and for the rest of his life he managed the apartment buildings for the tenants. In 1934 my grandmother was born, Filomena Gallo. Back in the day the families were large; my great grandparents had 7 children and became very successful in the land of opportunity, America. 
My great grandparents spoke Italian as their primary language. They learned to speak broken English but never learned to read or write in English. My grandmother laughingly told me “They spoke very broken English but they were able to count American money in perfect English!” My grandmother also said her parents provided very well for the family. Even during the great depression they were able to have all the stables they wanted and still got the best cuts of meat from the local butcher. 
I see a lot of similarities between my great grandparents and my own parents as far as status. My great grandparents seemed to have a very good life like my parents. They were always looking for a better life by working hard, saving and investing. My parents also looked for the best way to raise their own children. They invested in a lot of properties and excelled in the business world. I can see the drive from my great grandparents in my own parents. If only I could find the same drive in myself!!!