Sicily, Italy

On the day of her sister's baptism, did Basilia know she would soon be playing a central role in strengthening the connection between the Pintabona and Casella families?

There was one less rooster crowing in the mornings and strutting around the yard demanding attention - that was because Francesca had used him for something very special!

In 1863 Carmela was an aging 31-year-old spinster living in the Sicilian town of Piraino and facing a terrifying predicament.

Following the birth of their first child, Antonino and Rosaria broke a significant and long-standing tradition when they named their daughter "Basilia" - after someone other than a grandparent.

Basilia Pintabona's father, Antonino, was born on a Tuesday morning in 1872 in Sant'Angelo di Brolo, at the family home on Contrada Miceli.

Basilia Pintabona was born on 17 October, 1897 in the Sant'Angelo di Brolo region of Sicily.

Carmelo and Francesca lived in Sant'Angelo di Brolo with their large family of nine children born between 1889 to 1908 (inclusive).

Carmelo was born in 1860 in Sant'Angelo di Brolo. Casella photographs of his generation are rare, yet two group images have been discovered.

The name Giuseppe Casella is traced back to Sant'Angelo, in 1777. From here, many others with the same name are found on the family tree.

As she walked down the church aisle, bride Concetta could feel the two-lire coin her mother placed in her right shoe for good luck.

In 1939, Giuseppe, Basilia and their children gathered for a photo. Today, this remains the only image capturing the entire family together.