When I began my search for my ancestors, little did I know that I would uncover that I would find at least 23 saints that were direct ancestors.  Of course, once you go back this far, there are millions of cousins out there, but you have to be able to find that starting point.  I was lucky enough to find that link through my paternal great grandmother Emilia Caracciolo Di Torchiarolo. Saint Elizabeth Aragon’s relation to you: Direct ancestor (22 generations) 1. Nicholas Victor Sorrentino is your father 2. Maria Luigia Piromallo is the mother of Nicholas Victor Sorrentino 3. Maria Emilia Caracciolo is the mother of Maria Luigia Piromallo 4. Filippo Caracciolo is the father of Maria Emilia Caracciolo 5. Prince Luigi Caracciolo is the father of Filippo Caracciolo 6. Prince Ambrogio II Caracciolo is the father of Prince Luigi Caracciolo 7. Prince Luigi Caracciolo is the father of Prince Ambrogio II Caracciolo 8. Ambrogio Caracciolo is the father of Prince Luigi Caracciolo 9. Prince Marino III Caracciolo is the father of Ambrogio Caracciolo 10. Prince Francesco Marino Caracciolo is the father of Prince Marino III Caracciolo 11. Francesca D’AVOLOS is the mother of Prince Francesco Marino Caracciolo 12. Inigo Aragon is the father of Francesca D’AVOLOS 13. Ferrante Francesco Aragon is the father of Inigo Aragon 14. Maria Aragon is the mother of Ferrante Francesco Aragon 15. Fernando Aragon is the father of Maria Aragon 16. Ferdinand I Naples is the father of Fernando Aragon 17. Alfonso V Aragon is the father of Ferdinand I Naples 18. Ferdinand I De Antequera Aragon is the father of Alfonso V Aragon 19. Eleanor Aragon is the mother of Ferdinand I De Antequera Aragon 20. Leonore Sicily is the mother of Eleanor Aragon 21. Afonso IV Portugal is the father of Leonore Sicily 22. Saint Elizabeth Aragon is the mother of Afonso IV Portugal   From Encyclopedia Britannica Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, byname the Peacemaker, or the Holy Queen, Portuguese Santa Isabel de Portugal, or a Pacificadora, or a Rainha Santa, (born c.1271—died July 4, 1336, Estremoz, Port.; canonized 1625; feast day July 4), daughter of Peter III of Aragon, wife of King Dinis (Denis) of Portugal.She was named for her great-aunt St. Elizabeth of Hungary and received a strict and pious education. In 1282 she was married to Dinis, a good ruler but an unfaithful husband. Despite the corrupt court life, Elizabeth maintained her devout habits, helped the sick and the poor, and founded charitable establishments. When her son Afonso rebelled against his father, Elizabeth rode between the two armies and reconciled father and son. She also helped settle disputes among other royal relatives. After Dinis died in 1325, she lived at Coimbra, Port., near a Poor Clare convent that she had founded, and devoted herself to people in need. She died on her way to the battlefield to make peace between her son, then King Afonso IV, and Alfonso XI of Castile.  Citation InformationArticle Title:Saint Elizabeth of PortugalWebsite Name:Encyclopaedia BritannicaPublisher:Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Date Published:30 June 2018URL:https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Elizabeth-of-PortugalAccess Date:February 13, 2019 Franciscan Media Visual Story Catholic News Agency On July 4, the Catholic Church celebrates St. Elizabeth of Portugal, a queen who served the poor and helped her country avoid war during the 13th and 14th centuries. Elizabeth of Portugal was named for her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who was canonized in 1235. Their lives were similar in some important ways: both of them were married at very young ages, they sought to live the precepts of the Gospel despite their status as royalty, and finished their lives as members of the Third Order of St. Francis. The younger Elizabeth was born in 1271, the daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon and his wife Constantia. Even in her youth, Elizabeth showed a notable devotion to God through fasting, regular prayer, and a sense of life’s seriousness. While still very young, she was married to King Diniz of Portugal, a marriage that would put her faith and patience to the test. King Diniz was faithfully devoted to his country, known as the “Worker King” because of his diligence. Unfortunately, he generally failed to live out the same faithfulness toward his wife, although he is said to have repented of his years of infidelity before his death. Diniz and Elizabeth had two children, but the king fathered an additional seven children with other women. Many members of the king’s court likewise embraced or accepted various forms of immorality, and it would have been easy for the young queen to fall into these vices herself. But Elizabeth remained intent on doing God’s will with a humble and charitable attitude. Rather than using her status as queen to pursue her own satisfaction, she sought to advance Christ’s reign on earth. Like her namesake and great-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth of Portugal was a devoted patroness and personal friend of the poor and sick, and she compelled the women who served her at court to care for them as well. The queen’s bishop testified that she had a custom of secretly inviting in lepers, whom she would bathe and clothe, even though the law of the land barred them from approaching the castle. Elizabeth’s commitment to the Gospel also became evident when she intervened to prevent civil war in the kingdom on two occasions. Alfonso, the only son of Diniz and Elizabeth, resented the king’s indulgent treatment of one of his illegitimate sons, to the point that the father and son gathered together rival armies that were on the brink of open war in 1323. On this occasion, St. Elizabeth placed herself between the two opposing armies, insisting that Diniz and Alfonso come to terms and make peace with one another. In 1336, the last year of her life, she intervened in a similar manner to prevent her son from waging war against the King of Castile for his poor treatment of Alfonso’s own daughter. Following King Diniz’s death in 1325, Elizabeth had become a Franciscan of the Third Order, and had gone to live in a convent that she had established some years before. The testimony of miracles accomplished through her intercession, after her death in 1336, contributed to her canonization by Pope Urban VIII in 1625. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Randall Di Stefano talks about his family from Nicolosi and how they settled in East Hampton Conn with some taking up the interesting trade of bell making. Podcast Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

Natalie Webb discusses her Italian roots and her families long history in Brooklyn NY Podcast Click here to join our group on Facebook h Video

Join Bob as he interviews Paul Nauta from family search.org Click here to join our group on Facebook Paul Nauta is a blatantly proud second generation Italian-American who still speaks “la lingua” and has wonderful Italian family history stories for an amateur.  His paternal grandfather immigrated to Ellis Island just before WWI and maternal grandparents in the 1890s.  His Italian roots originate in Cagnano Varano (Foggia), Sassano (Salerno), and Alia (Palermo). He is the Senior Marketing Communications and PR Manager for FamilySearch International where he manages the FamilySearch Blog and Newsroom.  He loves family, the great outdoors, everything Italian, and a good story. He’s a pretty good Italian cook too.  His claim to Italian genealogical infamy was being able to personally reconnect with his living family in Italy and introduce the next generation of his family. He is married, has 4 children, and 3 grandchildren. Direct surnames in his Italian family tree are DiNauta, Benvenga, DiCataldo, Pelusi, Volpe, Garone, Bessolano, Polito, Miceli (Michelli), Pizzillo, D’Ippolito, Todaro, Taravella, Sedita, Lotuso, Chimento. Family History Library Consultations (Reservation Page) Italy Guided Research Explore Images FamilySearch Blog Italian Heritage Italy Country Page FamilySearch Wiki: Italy Genealogy FamilySearch Community FS/FB/Misc Italy | Italy,  Austro-Hungarian Empire (for parts of Italy) | Southern Europe Genealogy Research Community | Southern Italian Genealogy Network,Sicilian Genealogy, Genealogy in Acerra, France and Mediterranean Genealogy News Release: FS Unlocking Centuries of Italian Ancestry Records DGA (National archives of Italy). Portale Antenati  

Elena Gissi Pino Italy 1926 Elena andTraci   This is a great story about how Traci found Elena, who just as a new friend agreed to help Traci find the lady in black.  As a result, Elena started E. G. Ancestry Research.  Elena adds a personal touch and researches civil and church records in the Northern part of Italy.  However, she will make special arrangements with you for trips to the south. In addition, Elena will translate Antenati records or other ancestry documents at a reasonable price.  See the marriage contract that she translated for me below the podcast. To research your “Lady In Black”  or other ancestors you can contact Elena at E. G. Ancestry Research When you contact Elena please mention IG2020. Click here to join our group on Facebook Previous Next CLICK TO READ ELENA’S TRANSLATION OF MARRIAGE DOCUMENTS DISPLAYED ABOVE. Find it on the Map Some of Elena’s Photos