Piraneo & Blancato Families of Sortino (Siracusa), Sicily
My grandparents were Carlo Piraneo (born 1/24/1895 - died 4/18/1964) and Rosina (Rose) Blancato Piraneo (b 9/8/1903 - d 5/31/1995). Both were originally from Sortino (Siracusa), Sicily but emigrated to the Bronx around the early 1920s. Any information about other Piraneo and Blancato families, either here in the U.S. or abroad, would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Piraneo & Blancato Families of Sortino (Siracusa), Sicily
My grandparents, also from Sortino, settled in the Bronx. My grandfather's name was Giovanni Blancato and his wife was Sophia Cassarino Blancato. My grandfather's father was Sebastiano and mother was Concetta Cartelli ( I think ). I believed my grandfather traveled to the states with his brother, Sebastiano. Where in the Bronx did your family settle? Do these names sound familiar?
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Re: Piraneo & Blancato Families of Sortino (Siracusa), Sicily
I beleive I may be your cousin...my father was Vincenzo Piraneo...he was married to Carolina Veca..my mother, brother, Sebastiano and myself immigrated to the USA in 1956..we are also from Sortino..My father had brothers...Giuseppe being one..he also had two sisters..Giuseppina and Sebastiana...we lived in the Bronx on Willett Avenue..is any of this familiar to you?...let me know...
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Sortino Roots - YES! You and I ARE related!
Dear Maria Rosa:
Your father is my great uncle, I believe! My grandfather, Carlo Piraneo, who was born January 24, 1895 and died April 18, 1964, had brothers and sisters with names familiar as you describe! I remember my Aunt Josie (Giuseppina) and Aunt Anna (Sebastiana.) They never had any children. I remember visiting them in the Bronx, and sitting under a trellised patio, where grape vines hung from above. I don't remember much else from those early days (I was born in 1954), but I am proud of my family and hope to learn more about them. Did you know that the names of your grandparents (my great grandparents) were Sebastian and Sebastiana? I found that out recently when I wrote to the Archivio di Stato in Siracusa and got a certified copy of my grandparents' birth certificates from the Comune di Sortino. Do you visit Sortino? I would love to go someday! I am an avid traveller and have visited my maternal grandparents' birthplace (in the province of Foggia.) It is my desire to do the same in Sortino, and to do some research. Perhaps you can help me?? Thank you. Roseanne (Piraneo) Hill
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Re: Sortino Roots - YES! You and I ARE related!
Dear Roseanne:
Yes, we are definitely related...the trellis you so fondly recall was a place I loved to visit...I actually lived right next door...my father, mother, brother and later another brother and sister lived above my uncle Peppino (Giuseppe) and his wife Carmela; they had three children, Sebastiana (they called her Nelly) Athonony and Jimmy..I thought that Carlo Piraneo was my uncle..did he have a daughter Anna that died at an early age?..mine did..as a matter of fact my sister was called Anna when she was born and still today as a kind of tribute to her..my sisters name is actually Elvira...I now live in upstate NY (Catskill)..where do you live?...let me know..I would love to meet you..who knows, perhaps we can visit Sortino together...write back soon...
Marie (as I am known know)
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Re: Sortino Roots - YES! You and I ARE related!
Your uncle Carlo was my paternal grandfather! You are my father's first cousin! I have e-mailed you privately. Ciao, Roseanne
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Marie, this is Linda, Roseanne's twin sister
It is wonderful to read you are related to us. I also remember sitting under the trellis and eating grapes from the vines as well as sharp provolone cheese (so sharp, it burned your tongue!) and oil-cured olives. I also remember many, many years ago playing with a girl about our age whose name was Maria. Could that be you?? I remember after some years, you no longer were there to play with. I vaguely remember you either moved away or the families had some sort of rift??? Do you remember playing with twins? Email me and I'll tell you more of my life and send you some pics! --Linda (my birth name was Rosalinda)
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Re: Marie, this is Linda, Roseanne's twin sister
Hi Linda: I'm so happy to have found so much family....YES, I must be that Maria..and YES the family always had some sort of rift...I will send some pics...you do the same...please e-mail me at " mariegjergji@aol.com"...look forward to hearing from you and the rest of the family....Marie
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Re: Piraneo & Blancato Families of Sortino (Siracusa), Sicily
Dear Marie:
I tried to send you an email on your aol.com screen name, but I got an error message.
Please send me your new email address. I have some news about Sortino.
Roseanne (Piraneo) Hill
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