Bob and Linda Match
I’ve made several cousin connections using ancestry.com. With many of them we will simply exchange an email here and there on ancestry.com and compare some notes. I find that most people go to ancestry.com mainly to have a DNA test, an aren’t that interested in building a family tree, making connections, or sharing information.
Occasionally, you hit the jackpot like I did with Linda. Linda, who was researching her Piromallo grandmother came across my tree and sent me a message. I always suspected that my grandmother’s aunt had come to the US in 1905, but I could never really make a firm connection.
Over the course of the next 18 months, we would message back and forth with some known or new information and share storied and photos. I invited Linda to our Family Facebook group as well as some of her immediate family. While I had a lot of information from Italy, from both my own research and from a local research specialist, Linda did not.
Recently, Linda hired a researcher also, that turned up a lot of information that started to prove the theory. I was 100% certain, however, Linda still had some doubts. Earlier this year she did her first DNA test and BINGO 3rd cousins once removed. In the last few days Linda has been sending some photos. Her Great Grandmother and my Grandmother were 1st cousins, so this is very exciting to see.
For more on the Piromallo Family check these posts.
1st Cousins
Maria Luisa Piromallo
Maria Pergamo
I am still working on verifying the photo below, but I am now leaning towards that these are the 2 cousins above with their grandmother. Update: I think we confirmed based on photos.
My Great Grand Aunt ( My great grandfather's sister ) Maria Piromallo
Update Research Cousins Meet
After 18 months of comparing notes and collaborating on email and phone. Bob and Linda meet for first time. Linda came over with her first cousin Gene. What was truly amazing to learn was that Gene and I lived only about 3 blocks from each other in Flushing NY for 4 years. Gene and Linda’s grandmother had a two family home there. Their grandmother was my dad’s second cousin.
The Magic of Taormina, Ancient Views, and Evening in Catania
Click here to join out Facebook group Morning Coastal Views and Heading North After fueling up with a superb breakfast at the Grand Hotel Baia Verde, we boarded the bus for a highly anticipated day trip to Taormina, one of Sicily’s most dazzling clifftop jewels. As we drove along the coastline, our guide, Valentino, kept us entertained and informed with a rich history of the region. Frame after frame, Mount Etna continued to steal the
Calabria to Sicily – Swordfish in Scilla, the Ferry, and Catania Feast
Click here to join out Facebook group A Morning Departure and a Brilliant Detour After a quick breakfast and some last-minute packing, we loaded up the bus and prepared for the long trek south to Catania, Sicily. But this wasn’t just a simple travel day—we had a fantastic bonus built into the itinerary! Having visited the area several years ago, I had suggested to Phil from Phil~italy that we make a detour to Scilla on
Coastal Heights, Sweets, and the Cliffside Beauty of Tropea
Click here to join out Facebook group Winding Mountain Roads and Arriving on the Coast We set off from Lamezia Terme for a roughly two-hour drive down to the famous coastal town of Tropea. Most of the journey was smooth sailing along the autostrada, but as we neared the coast, the road gave way to a dramatic series of twists and turns, winding right down the mountainside toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a hot,
Lamezia Terme – Norman King and Castle Heights
Click here to join out Facebook group A Relaxed Morning in Lamezia Terme We took full advantage of a free morning in Lamezia Terme by taking a leisurely stroll down the main high street. Wandering in and out of local shops is always one of the best ways to get a feel for everyday Italian life. Along the way, we stumbled upon Italy’s equivalent of a dollar store—and, naturally, we couldn’t resist going in! We
Deep in Calabria: Lanificio Leo, Platania, and Sunday Feast
Click here to join out Facebook group Artisanal Heritage at Lanificio Leo We knew Day 6 was going to be action-packed right from the start! We kicked off the morning with a 60-minute scenic bus ride through the mountain landscapes to Soveria Mannelli to visit Lanificio Leo. Lanificio Leo is a remarkable 150-year-old historic wool mill that has been lovingly revived by the original owner’s grandson. Before exploring the facility, we watched a fascinating RAI
On to Calabria: Scenic Drives, and Feasting in a Cave
Click here to join out Facebook group Best-Laid Plans and Italian Train Realities We started our fifth day in Italy with another wonderful breakfast at the hotel, full of excitement because we had a free morning planned. The highlight was supposed to be a long-awaited reunion with Antonia, an old friend from grammar school who moved to Italy seven years ago. We had been planning this meet-up for weeks, but just as we were finishing
