Interview with Mary Raso

Mary Raso was born in Welland, Ontario on June 21, 1921. Her eldest sister was married to Antonio Raso, who was interned at Petawawa in 1940. He was held at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds in Toronto before being taken to Petawawa. He was released around nine or ten months later. Mary's sister (along with her daughter and mother-in-law) came to live with Mary while Antonio was in the camp because their home was confiscated. Mary believes Antonio was arrested because he started the Sons of Italy chapter in Welland. While Mary's husband was not interned, he was fingerprinted and was ordered to report weekly to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Mary says that she did not have to report because she was Canadian-born. After Mary's husband died she worked to support the family by opening up her own business selling high-priced china. She was very successful and she worked until she was 88 years old.