(The following is a translation of a letter Marietta received from her sister, Raffaela Rota, in 1947.)

Pedace March 1, 1947

Dear Sister,

I am responding to your dear letter and I am happy of your state of health. This I can say of myself and my children.

Dear Sister and brother-in-law, you cannot imagine how satisfied to hear that they are alive with this disaster of war. We have had the fortune of not having tasted death, not you and not me, in this the Lord has blessed us. Hope the it will always go this good without worries. I heard when you told me that two sons have returned from the war and one is in Japan. I wish that this (my letter) will find him at home.

My dear sister, you told me that you mailed a parcel, we have received it and is exactly as you indicated in your letter. I, dearest sister, Thank you infinity. Our distance is very sad and I would love to have you near to tell you many things.

My dear sister, when you write, write longer letters and tell me of your family situation. The males (sons) you have indicated that there are three, but the females (daughters) I do not know how many there are. I only know of Teresa because you sent the picture of her and her husband. For now I leave you with my dearest salutations. Say an affectionate hello to my brother-in-law, my nephews and nieces, along with my children who send hugs and with all my strength of my soul, I am your sister Raffaela Rotta, widow Morano

My beloved uncle and aunt and cousins, I who is writing on this page am your nephew Luigi. I have the fortune of being able to write to our dear far way family but always close to our hearts. Uncle and Aunt and cousins, my beautiful youth has been taken away [it was wasted as a soldier] from 1938 until 1946 but I am happy that I am alive after these 8 years but the last 3 years I spent in prison in Russia [prisoner of war] and think awhile of how much I have suffered. But now we need to think of the future and how we can better it. Dear Uncle my need, at this moment, is that it would be necessary to have fabric for a suit, so then here I can have it sewn (made) how it is used here. I am not going to make this longer, if you can make me happy. I end with salutations with my big heart to aunt and cousins and with affection to you dear uncle, your nephew Morano Luigi Waiting for a fast response, Take care.



Translated by Maria Restall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada