80-year-old woman who never knew she had siblings, reunites with them after many years

An 80-year-old woman from Cessalto, Italy, Paola, has been reunited with her five siblings she never knew existed.

This remarkable reunion was reportedly made possible by the persistence and determination of her daughter, Sonia.

The astonishing discovery came to light after Sonia suggested they undergo a DNA test, leading to a journey of uncovering long-lost family ties that spanned decades and continents.

Paola’s father, a soldier stationed in Cessalto during World War II, was absent from her life as she grew up.

After the war, he relocated to Veroli, his hometown, where he married and started a new family, leaving Paola unaware of her siblings’ existence.

Despite her father’s departure, Paola grew up with a longing to know her roots, a desire that persisted throughout her life.

Sonia, driven by her grandmother’s stories and her mother’s yearning to reconnect with her lost family, embarked on a relentless quest to find Paola’s father.

For three decades, she scoured Red Cross records, newspaper ads, social media platforms, and even reached out to television programs like ‘C’è posta per te’, hosted by Maria De Filippi, known for reuniting estranged families and resolving unresolved issues.

After exhausting conventional methods, Sonia turned to modern technology, having Paola undergo a DNA test.

The test results revealed a remarkable connection with a girl from Veroli, prompting Sonia to narrow her search to the small municipality until she eventually traced a nephew of Pietro Martelluzzi, Paola’s father.

The revelation brought Paola into contact with her siblings: Anna, Filomen, Severino, and Gino, who welcomed her with open arms, bridging the decades-long gap in their family history.

Sonia expressed her relief and joy at finally bringing closure to her mother’s lifelong search.

“The soldier was transferred and my mother grew up,” Sonia told whatsthejam .

“I learnt about this story from my grandmother, I remember it was a summer evening.

“I wrote down Pietro Martelluzzi’s name, keeping it in my diary, and promised her I would find him.

“For 30 years, I searched through the Red Cross records, among the lists of repatriated, missing, and surviving soldiers.

“I also placed ads in newspapers in Rome, around, and on social media.

“I wrote to ‘C’è posta per te’ by Maria De Filippi but with no success.

“I had too few leads at my disposal.”

‘C’è posta per te’ is a reality show that covers topics such as strained family ties, lost loves, old friendships, or unresolved issues.

“I had my mother undergo a DNA test. I had heard about this approach in an interview,” Sonia added.

“The result, compared with all those in a database, closely matched that of a girl with origins in the municipality of Veroli.

“So, I focused all my research on the town until I reached a nephew of Pietro Martelluzzi.”

Paola siblings are Anna, Filomen, Severino and Gino.