Entry 31: Carmelo Casella

Location: Sicily, Italy

Dates: 1860 - Birth of Carmelo, 1920 - Wedding photo of nephew

Following on from Entry 28, Carmelo Casella was born on 21 March,1860 at the family home located on Contrada Arcaloro in Sant’Angelo di Brolo.

He had two older siblings, Santo (birth name Giuseppe) and Anna, and a younger brother and sister – Salvatore and Francesca.

Photographs of Casella ancestors from this era are rare, making it exciting to feature two group images. The first photo captures a wedding dated 30 December, 1920. Carmelo is seated on the left, and his wife Francesca Catrini is standing beside him, with her hand resting on his shoulder. Sitting in the middle, Carmelo’s brother Santo is easily recognised by his trademark sideburns. The groom (standing at the back) is Santo’s son – Antonino. In this photo, the brothers - Carmelo and Santo, are aged 60 and 66 respectively.

Also in the photo is the Candido family:

• Giuseppa Candido (bride, holding flowers)

• Vincenza (bride’s mother, standing next to her daughter)

• Francesca Paola Candido (bride’s sister, standing right)

• Luigi Candido (bride’s father, seated right)

The second photograph, taken circa 1908, shows Santo with his wife Francesca Caruso and three of their eight children - Nicola, Basilio and Rosa.

The fourteen year old boy standing on the left, is Nicola Casella. As an adult, he migrated to Perth and was known as Uncle Nic or Zio Cuono. He was married to Carmela Casella, and they had two sons - Santo and Carmelo.