I kept hearing so many stories about how great facebook was as a social gathering and rekindling of former relationships. As a new member, I enjoyed surfing the pages and rekindling friendships from the 1950-60's with classmates - and making new friends.

In December 2009, a pop-up message appeared on my screen suggesting I check out a page called Bertazzon WorldWide. I noticed the majority of the members were from Treviso, Italy. The administrator had messaged me to ask why my last name contained only one 'z'. I explained the story of my Uncle Francisco Bertazon changing the spelling upon entering the USA "without papers," according to my father Ignazio (Will) Bertazon and brother Guido. The page name was then changed to Bertazzon (Bertazon) Worldwide.  

I posted a brief biography explaining dates and names of my ancestry, plus the Bertazzon genealogy chart dating to the late 1700's from the providence of Sernaglia Della Battaglia in Treviso. Several Bertazzons wrote in an attempt to match kinship, but none did. I remember that my cousin Gilbert Lorenzon (mother was Angelina Bertazzon from Vonges, France) told me that we didn't have any relations in Italy. I shared with him that our Uncle Benjamino returned to Italy around 1927 with an American wife. However, he insisted, so I accepted the fact.

Then a message came from Loretta Mengotti from Brisbane, Australia; she wrote that her mother Caterina Maria (nee Bertazzon) was from Sernaglia Della Battaglia in Treviso. I wrote back to say that interestingly, my one granddaughter was named Caterina Maria (Catherine Mary). We messaged each other for several weeks, however, it seemed like another dead end.  

In 2010, Loretta wrote ecstatically to say she had checked and doubled- checked her genealogy chart, comparing hers to mine. Her grandfather, Marco Bertazzon (1893) and my grandfather Luigi Bertazzon (1856) were cousins! We again double-checked, speaking with her mother Caterina to compare our notes; they proved that Loretta's great grandfathers, Guisto Bertazzon (1812) and my great grandfather, Giuseppe Bertazzon (1823) were brothers. Since the relationship is distant, we decided mutually that we are cousins by blood - and cousins so be it.

Loretta and I continued to correspond and Skype. In May, I had made plans to travel to Bronx, NY to attend a Yankees game with two Little Italy neighborhood guys that I grew up with: Richard DiSeta and Sal Spinnato. As fate would have it, I received this message from Loretta:

Hello Bill, When you wake up this morning we will be on a plane to New York! Russell has to make a quick trip for a business meeting, so I've decided to go with him. It's only until Sunday afternoon. By any chance are you in New York this weekend? I'll get in touch with you when we get to the hotel. Ciao Loretta

My reply: Loretta, You probably won't receive this in time, but yes, Saturday morning we will be in New York to attend a Yankees baseball game. Please call my cell. Would be great to finally meet you and hopefully Rusty.

Talk about ecstatic! I teared up. Saturday morning in Manhattan, Loretta and I hugged for the first time. We went to Panera Bread and chatted and stared at one another - not believing we finally met. (I was only in NY for ONE day - what fate). Since then, we have decided to travel to Treviso, Italy (including her mother Caterina) in 2013 for a Bertazzon/Bertazon reunion.

Thanks facebook, for my newfound cousin Loretta! 

TOILETRIES DONATIONS NEEDED FOR HOMELESS 

St. Leo's is conducting a Toiletry Drive for the homeless. Drop off items to the parish office at 227 S. Exeter Street: soap, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Pastor Father Sal thanks you and says "God Bless You!" 

BOOKS NEEDED Please drop off fiction, nonfiction, and children's books to the parish office or to the bookstand at the St. Anthony's Festival this weekend. Contact Carmella Walsh, 410-991-9255.