Found

Once a week I volunteer at my local Family History Center. When I am not assisting our patrons I do my own research. Currently, I have been browsing the vital records on mircofilm for Terracina, Italy looking for family. I recently found this 1900 death record for Umberto Vincenzo Giannetti. Whenever, I see the surname Giannetti, I stop and try to read the record. While I don't really know Italian I have been able to learn from the FamilySearch website's many helpful guides, what to look for in Italian records to find basic information. In this record I saw the names of my great parents Silviano Giannetti and Rosaria Morlani. They were listed as the parents of this five year old little boy who died, Umberto Giannetti. I didn't know about him before. At first I am filled with sadness. Many things go through my mind. How hard would it be to lose your little child or a small brother? I wondered how he died. If the records states the reason I don't know how to read that part. I think back about my grandmother, Virginia. She was such a sad person. Did her brother's death have something to do with that? She would have been eight years old when he died. The family immigrated to America and leaving their little one's grave back in Italy. What sadness would that bring? 

Then I felt joy. Joy to have found this little one.  Someone, has remembered him on earth and thought of that family today.  I know that families can be forever.  That makes me happy!

Fabulous Friday's Forever Family Featuring...

my grandmother Virginia Mary Giannetti!! Grandma was the only grandparent alive when I was born. She lived in Canada so I didn't get to see her often. I remember visiting her home once when I was about five. She had a cute little home with a garden in the back. I remember eating her peas fresh from the plant. There was a great little corner store down the street and she would give us money to go buy a treat. Grandma was born in Terracina Italy to Silviano Giannetti and Rosario Morlani, one of at least three children.
I was so happy to find her birth record on mircofilm. I love it that her given name was actually Virginia Felice, not Mary. Felice is happy in Italian, so her name is more like Merry than Mary!

She married Pio Celestino in Terracina in 1912! It's rumored in family stories that her marriage was arranged by her older brother, Giovanni. She immigrated through Ellis Island and on into Canada to reunite with her husband in 1914. He however deserted her for another woman. So she had to raise two little girls on her own. Life was hard and difficult to live up to her name of Felice.
This is my Grandma with my mom (the youngest daughter) and my Aunt Eva.

A sweet memory I have of my Grandma is every Christmas she would send us Sees Candy. We would get a little sleigh filled with chocolates!! Yummy!! When I was a teenager my grandma and Aunt came to live with us in California. I was so excited to finally have a grandma close to me. However, Grandma was a quiet women. I wanted to hear stories of her life in Italy, but she didn't want to share. Such a disappointment to me. There was much family contention between my mom and her sister and they moved out. We didn't hear from them much. Very sad indeed. Years later when I started family research I had a feeling that my Grandmother had died, because I knew she had been ill. Unfortunately I found her death record in the California index. It is sad to me that she passed away and my own mom didn't even know about it!!

I wonder if my shyness comes from Grandma. I'm sad that her stories of life growing up in Italy never were shared. So, I need to remember to share my stories with my grandchildren!!

Fabulous Friday's Forever Family Featuring...

my great-grandfather Silviano Giannetti!!
I recently found this picture with some of my mother's things. On the back it says "Granddad, me and Eva". (Doesn't mention the little boy.) Silviano was born in 1861 in Terracina, Italy. He traveled to the USA in 1913, entering through Boston Harbor. He was 49 years old when he arrived and his wife and daughter didn't come for 6 more years. How hard would that be??
Silviano and his wife Rosaria had three children that I know, Virginia, Josephine and Giovanni. He lived with his daughter Josephine's family, the Scafiddi's, in Somerville, Massachusetts. He was involved in some kind of an accident in the subway and spent his last three years of life in Tewksbury State Hospital. He died in 1944 before I was born.
My Aunt told me that her Granddad loved to be with little children and he was a kind and gentle man. I love little children too, and try to be gentle and kind. Maybe I get that from him!!
Rest in Peace, Granddad.