The roots of our ancestors included chains made of 14-karat and 18-karat gold. On no one's neck did those luxurious Italian chains gleam more brightly than on the sturdy little neck of my mother, Angela Violet Rizzo Cosentino. Throughout her 95 plus years, she carried off JEWELRY better than any red-carpet runway model; talked Yankee talk like the devoted Bronx Bomber fan she was; and pitched one-liners like she still waitressed in the Bronx. I hope...