Family in Summonte: how Denise is related to Vittorio

Denise's great-grandmother, Giuseppa Guerriero, was born in Summonte in 1878. Her younger brother Vincenzo stayed in Summonte, married Esterina, and raised a family there. Vittorio is one of Vincenzo's sons.

That makes Vittorio a first cousin of Denise's grandfather, Edward Manfra. To Denise, he is a first cousin twice removed. Edward grew up in New Jersey after the family came through Ellis Island in 1912, and Vittorio grew up in the same hill town Giuseppa had left. Two branches of one family, an ocean apart, and still connected.

We first visited Vittorio and his wife in Summonte in March 2008, and went back in October 2025. Both times they welcomed us like we had never been away.

We plan to visit again in spring 2027.