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Family History

Matthew Mitchell

American Military University

CHFD225

November 13, 2015

Homogamy is marriage between individuals who are, in some culturally important way, similar to each other. Homogamy may be based on socioeconomic status, class, gender, ethnicity, or religion, or age in the case of the so-called age homogamy. It is a form of assortative mating (Merriam-Webster, 2015). I am able to trace my family history back five generations to my great-great grandparents. I am a mix of Italian, Irish, French, German and Indian decent. My family consisted of both men and women who held various life roles such as serving in the armed military forces, college graduates and the private work place sector. Stemming back five generations, my entire family on the maternal side was born and raised in Louisiana. My family on the paternal side are also from Louisiana, with the exception of my paternal grandfather, who was born in Eula, Mississippi.

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 27, 1987 to Billy and Melissa. I was baptized as a Roman Catholic and attended Catholic school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. I entered the United States Navy in August 2011 and left active duty status in August 2014. I am currently in pursuit of my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and scheduled to graduate sometime in 2016. I work full time as a Quality Control Specialist for an oil and gas company. I am currently single with no children, and have never been married.

My parents Melissa Dorfi (born July 14, 1966) and Billy Mitchell (born March 1, 1953) were married on June 14, 1985. My mother is of Italian, French, and Irish descent while my father is Choctaw Indian, German and French. My parents divorced in March 1989 when I was one and a half years old. My mother was a practicing Catholic and my father was not of any particular religion until he turned 18 and chose to be baptized a Catholic. Melissa, my mother attended college and worked as a real estate agent for many years and is now a homemaker. My father Billy was a high school graduate and worked in various industries in a sales capacity. Both parents have remarried and have been married to their current spouses for twenty plus years. I also have a sister and a step brother.

My maternal grandparents are Bobbie (Miranda) and Benjamin Gioe. Bobbie (born May 20, 1947) was a high school graduate and Benny (born December 10, 1944) was also a high school graduate who later joined the United States Army as a special forces Ranger during the Vietnam War. Bobbie and Benjamin had a daughter, my mother, Melissa on July 14, 1966. They divorced on March 26, 1969. Bobbie later remarried and had another daughter, Erika, on September 13, 1972.

My paternal grandparents are Carol (Sciambra) and William Mitchell. Carol (born May 18, 1938) attended high school in New Orleans and work in the insurance industry. William (born January 22, 1935) attended high school in Mississippi and went on to work as a cab driver for many years. Carol and William were married in New Orleans, Louisiana in July 1954. They were married for fifty-seven years when my grandfather William passed away on August 29, 2011. They were Christian, but, did not follow any particular faith. They had one son, my father Billy.

I was fortunate enough to know my maternal great-grandparents, Maurice Miranda (born January 16,1920) who served in the Army Air forces during World War II and Nathalie Ryan Miranda (born August 17,1924), for many years. Maurice worked at Schweggmann’s Grocery as Director of Collections while Nathalie served as a secretary with various companies. Together, Maurice and Nathalie had 4 children, one being my maternal grandmother, Bobbie. Nathalie passed away from a heart attack on April 14, 2007, and Maurice passed away on October 16, 2008.

I never had the opportunity to know my maternal great-great grandparents however, Joseph Miranda and Elda Boudreaux Miranda had two sons, one being my great grandfather, Maurice, and one daughter. Joseph’s parents migrated to the United States from Italy sometime in the late 1800’s. Nathalie’s parents were James Ryan Sr. and Victoria Harney Ryan and together they had eight children. James Ryan Sr. was a laborer at Domino Sugar Refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana for many years and his wife, Victoria was a housewife.

In summary, there is a plethora of heritage within my family, primarily being Italian, French, and Irish Catholics who all mostly raised families in New Orleans, Louisiana. Due to this fact, I think it safe to say that everyone in my family shares many of the same beliefs in regard to culture, economic status, ethnicity, and religion. The members of my family are in some culturally important way, all similar to each other.

Reference

“Homogamy". 2015. In Merriam-Webster.com.

Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker