The blue Mediterranean waters, a mother’s love and her dying wish have led four American women on an 8,000-kilometre journey to fulfil a lifelong dream of finding relatives in Malta.
Led by the enthusiasm of 25-year-old Shanna Richey, the family are on a mission to find what relatives they have left on the island after unsuccessfully searching for years.
The emotional, two-week trip to Malta from New York was fuelled by the desire of Ms Richey and her mother, Margaret Rose, 61, to fulfil the dying wish of their grandmother and mother, Serafina Rose Azzopardi, to have her ashes scattered over Maltese waters.
Accompanied by 71-year-old Rosemarie Johnson, Margaret Rose’s cousin and godmother to Shanna, and Ms Johnson’s daughter, Keri Ann, the women paid tribute to the family’s matriarch.
In a touching ceremony, they chartered a boat out to sea and said their last goodbyes to Serafina Rose some two years after her death.
No sooner were their feet back on dry land that the women went straight to work digging up any information about their family.
Although they managed to retrieve details about relatives, the family tree still had a missing link: their great-uncle Josephus Gatt.
“We just want the chance to connect,” Ms Richey said, referring to a small notebook she carries everywhere, jotting down any possible links or information that might come in useful.
Ms Richey, resigned to the fact Mr Gatt has most likely passed away, is looking for cousins who might recognise any photos or the family’s story.
Love for Serafina Rose is evident in the women’s eyes as they describe her as an elegant figure, always giving as much, if not more, than she received.
The story began in 1929 when Giuseppe Azzopardi and Rosina née Gatt migrated to New York, leaving behind Rosina’s brother Josephus.
The couple had lived in Vittoriosa and worked at the Manoel Theatre, designing and sewing costumes for productions. The family also believe they had lived in Valletta at some point.
They had seven children – Serafina Rose, Lorenzo, Rita, Felice, Giuseppe, Vincenzo and Carmela – but it was Mr Gatt who remained a mystery.
Although Serafina Rose did refer to her uncle, she could only provide limited information on him because she was only two when they emigrated.
Margaret Rose returned with her mother to Malta once on holiday but that did not yield any results either.
The last time the women had contact with any Maltese family members was some 41 years ago when other relatives visited their cousins in Malta.
Their last trip to Malta was 10 years ago when they could not get any more information but this time they are determined to succeed. Helped by Fr John Avellino, the family is well on its way to finding out more.
The women also contacted Times of Malta in a bid to cast the net as wide as possible and to appeal to anyone who might have information or are related to the Gatt family from Vittoriosa who might think there is a link.
If you think you might be related, e-mail azzopardigattsearch@gmail.com.