Mrs. Secondina Di Persio from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, was the 1987 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1987, at the age of 90, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On July 16, 1942, her son, Flight Sergeant Querino Di Persio, was killed while on duty with the Royal Canadian Air force in Egypt.

Mrs. Di Persio, born in Pratola Peligna, Italy, arrived in Canada in 1916 and became one of the first businesswomen in Sydney Mines when she opened a grocery store offering not only food for sale, but also acted as banker, translator, and letter writer for those Italian immigrants in need of help. Her store lasted for 50 years.

Three of her sons, Pat, Hank and Merino all served in Second World War.

Mrs. Di Persio died February 8, 1989 at the age of 91.