"Cream and perfume, jewels and a beautiful dress." Gianna Boeddu, 87, adopted by Decime, despite having become a great-great-grandmother a few days ago, does not give up the daily touch of elegance and femininity: "Taking care of your body and mind, not getting down and reading a lot are the secrets to staying active." Gianna's energy is contagious, marked by a dazzling smile outlined by lipstick. She reserves this energy above all for her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the latest arrival, her great-great-grandson Alessio Piredda: "Family is the most important thing. God has reserved a gift for me, despite the normal ups and downs that happen in all homes." A mother at 18, a grandmother at 36, a great-grandmother at 62 and a great-great-grandmother at 87, Gianna is a true force of nature.
The origins
"I was born in Bitti," she says, "I remember my childhood well, when I would run around the little village shop run by my aunt. Those shelves full of every good thing seemed like a dream to me."
Her family, for work reasons, had to move to Iglesias, a town where Gianna survived typhoid and met the boy who would become her husband when she was very young: «I got married at 15 years and 2 days. My boyfriend, Angelo Muroni, who was 9 years older than me, was originally from Sindia. My parents wouldn't let him into the house and so we decided to get married». Up until the day of the fateful "yes", her father didn't agree: «First he agreed and then changed his mind the day before the ceremony. But we managed to convince him and so, willingly or not, he gave in».
Emigrants
The newlyweds decided to start a family in Decimomannu: «My husband didn't like Iglesias, so we rented a house in what would become our “permanent” nest, apart from a brief period as emigrants in France».
After returning to Decimomannu, Muroni "hung up his miner's shoes and took up those of a farmer and forestry agent." But the money, with five children, was not enough to support the family: "We had bought a house in Via delle Aie, money was scarce anyway and I had to do something. I had a small unused room under my house, so I thought of starting a small shop."
“The source of savings ”
The shop on Via della Aie has become a point of reference not only for the people of Decime: "Food and small containers of washing powder were the best-selling products: I bought the goods from the representatives and resold them at a 10 percent mark-up. In a short time, the business grew dramatically and I had to expand the shop."
For everyone, she became “Gianna sa botteghera”: «I loved my job and being among people. Customers became fond of me because I didn’t tell anyone their secrets, I didn’t judge them and I allowed them to pay at the end of the month. Decimomannu is everything to me. I always felt at home and loved. I integrated and attended the courses organized by the Cif. The sweet Mrs. Augusta, wife of the family doctor Mallus, held courses in embroidery, knitting and behavior».
Retired
Now Gianna is a full-time grandmother, or rather, a great-great-grandmother: «I no longer devote myself to all my passions (sewing, cooking and reading) because my health doesn't allow it. But I still manage to look after my grandchildren for a few hours and prepare them simple snacks». The difficulties of life don't get her down: «I take the world as it comes». And to a purely patriarchal society she says: «I teach my granddaughters above all to fight and be independent. Women must work and be autonomous. As I have tried to be all my life».
Sara Saiu
