Roots in Val di Non
Small valleys’ life-changing power has always amazed me. Pierino’s valleys are real. His family is from a small northern Italian region where mountains loom and seasons tick like a clock. Valley name is little enough for a postcard yet big enough to transmit a culture across an ocean. There comes the desire to emigrate, work long hours, and eat polenta at family dinners. I imagine and record the scent of wood smoke and espresso to inform the story of a family that crossed the Atlantic.
A New Chapter in Queens
The family moved to a bustling city borough. Queens has bustling streets, multilingual discussions, and a thousand tiny jobs that keep the city running. Pierino worked as a server, learning the value of money and service. Though unglamorous, honest work created opportunities for future generations. My observations indicate that this was the decade when roots moved from stone terraces to apartment buildings and hopes were recast in English.
Family and Relationships
Bruna Facinelli
Bruna steps into the frame as the steady center beside Pierino. I picture her as both companion and coauthor of a family narrative. She managed household rhythms, raised children, and maintained ties to the old country. She is present in photographs at premieres and in informal snapshots on family visits to the valley. Those images say she is as much an anchor to memory as any document I could find.
Peter Facinelli
Their son Peter became the most public face of the family. Born in 1973, he built a career in film and television. When I trace his story, I see how his parents’ immigrant experience became the backdrop of his identity. He often remembers his father working nights and tells stories in interviews about growing up in Queens with Italian traditions at home. Peter is the bridge between the private toil of two immigrants and the bright lights of a profession built on visibility.
Jennie Garth
Peter’s marriage to Jennie, from 2001 until 2013, introduced new public layers to the family. She and Peter raised children together during that period, and the family dynamic shifted between privacy and public interest. Jennie is an actress in her own right and, for a time, a coauthor of the family story through shared events, joint appearances, and the everyday negotiation of raising kids with two parents in demanding careers.
Luca Bella Facinelli
Luca Bella is the eldest daughter. She was born in 1997 and grew up in a household that mixed Italian rituals with American routines. When I list dates and ages, she stands as the first child of a chapter in which fame begins to touch the family.
Lola Ray Facinelli
Born in 2002, Lola Ray is the middle daughter. I think of her as someone who grew up with snapshots of red carpets and quiet holidays in the valley. Her presence in family stories is both as child and as witness to the evolving public life of her father.
Fiona Eve Facinelli
Fiona Eve, born in 2006, is the youngest daughter in that trio. In many family narratives she represents the thread that ties past to present. When I trace visits back to Italy, I see her standing next to grandparents, learning the cadence of a dialect, tasting regional dishes, and being inducted into a heritage.
Jack Cooper Facinelli
Jack Cooper is part of a later generational chapter. He is a son who broadens the family tree. I include him to show continuity and to mark that the family story is not static. New branches continue to grow, adding names and small rituals that will be repeated by future children.
A Family Table in Numbers
| Year or Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Birth of Peter Facinelli, a touchstone date for the family timeline |
| 1997 | Birth of Luca Bella, eldest daughter |
| 2001 | Marriage of Peter and Jennie, start of a public family chapter |
| 2002 | Birth of Lola Ray |
| 2006 | Birth of Fiona Eve |
| 2012 | Family appearance at a film premiere, photographed together |
| 2013 | End of Peter and Jennie marriage period in public records |
These markers are not the whole story. They are signposts I use to pace the narrative, like mileposts on a long road.
Career, Work, and Quiet Achievements
I do not find a lengthy resume for Pierino in public directories, but I see his labor reflected in lineage. His work as a waiter is repeated across family recollections and biographies. That job provided stability and allowed children to pursue education and careers. Sometimes achievements are not medals or headlines; they are a steady paycheck, an evening spent helping with homework, and the passing of a language from one generation to the next. If I consider achievement as the capacity to open a door for others, then the arc from pier to stage is a testament to that kind of quiet success.
Recent Mentions and Public Appearances
The family still returns to the valley for holidays. I have noted social posts and regional mentions that place family members in the old town during summers. Photographs of parents at premieres surface occasionally, which illustrates a family still close enough to stand together under public lights. These are not constant headlines. They are windows: a single frame of the family at a premiere, a vacation album, a dinner table in late July.
FAQ
Who is Pierino Facinelli in relation to his famous son
Pierino is the father of Peter. He represents the first generation that arrived from Italy and established a household in Queens. His life is largely private, but his presence shaped the household in which Peter grew up.
What are the names and birth years of the children in the family
The primary children discussed in the family story are Luca Bella born 1997, Lola Ray born 2002, and Fiona Eve born 2006. Jack Cooper belongs to a subsequent generation.
What work did Pierino do
He worked as a waiter. That single line of work is the thread I can follow in public accounts. It is the sort of job that anchors a family when the next generation moves into public life.
Does the family still visit Italy
Yes. Visits to the valley occur periodically. I have seen dates and photographs tied to summer visits and family reunions. The valley remains a living memory for the family.
Are there public records about Pierino beyond family mentions
Publicly available mentions focus on family ties and occasional photographs. There is little evidence of a professional public profile beyond those family contexts. Private financial records and personal documents are not part of public narratives and therefore are not published here.
