Giuseppa Vendome (1923-2024) known as “Mama” among 9/11 recovery workers, was born in Sant Angelo dei Lombardi, in southern Italy. She migrated to the United States, along with her husband Rocco and their 2 children: Gennaro and Antonio, in 1955. She worked, at various times, as a candy maker, a tailor and owner and manager of real estate and restaurants.

In the wake of the September 11th attacks she, Rocco, and Antonio “Nino” expanded service at Nino's Restaurant on Canal Street and served over a million meals to the rescue and recovery personnel. Over the following nine months, they kept the Restaurant open, sometimes 24 hours a day, to serve her famous meatballs to the Police, Firefighters, FBI, Secret Service, soldiers, sanitation workers, and other workers at Ground Zero. To honor her, Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed September 10, 2022 as Giuseppa Vendome Day.

She is survived by Gennaro and wife Carol, Antonio and fiancé Candida, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. According to her obituary "Giuseppa leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and unwavering devotion to family. She will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her."