My mother Vicky’s mother, my Nunna, Fedela was the second daughter of Vincent Bartalo.
Vincent Bartalo married Vitttoria in ….? They came to Australia in 1925 and he returned to Malta alone in 1927. His four out of five daughters, Fedela, my Nuna, Dominica, Carmen and Jana and only son Jo – Guisseppe who travelled with him, stayed in Australia to, carve out interesting, productive and fulfilling lives.
Felela Sultana (nee Bartalo) at the Front Gate of 33 Targo Road, Pendle Hill.
Four of Five Sisters Bartalo in The Bay of St Paul, MALTA before leaving for Australia Left-Right Carmen, Jana, Fedela and Dominica.
Eldest – Mary –Anne stayed in Malta.
Mary-Anne had five children. Her husband died. Lost 21 year old son in Malta due to a motor bike accident. She married again and bore 3-5 more children.
Fedela married Salvatore (Sam) Sultana. He arrived in Australia from Gozo in 1925. Fedela was an market gardener and cook. She retired when her sight became impaired. She was a prayerful woman who in her declining days would walk around Pendle Hill reciting the rosary with her beads in her pocket. She passed away on 14/12/71 and was interred at Pine Grove, Minchenbury on The Great Western Highway.
Dominica (Aunty Cascun) married Paul Cascun. They built a large two storey orange brick house on The Great Western Highway at Pendle Hill. They had an amazing garden with any manner of things growing.
Guisseppe CUZAP (Jo) married another Carmen in Malta. He used to attend weekly Saturday night Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church at Wentworthville. He died of old age, maybe a heart issue at age 75.
Carmen (Aunty Portelli) married Anthony Portelli. They operated a general store next to Baiada Chickens on the Great Western Highway at Girraween. They and Baiada’s bought 20 acres of land each. One all the way to Mandoon Road. They had a double wedding with Jana and Charlie Baiada.
Vittoria passed away on 13 August 1945. The inscription on her headstone at North Rocks Cemetery, interestingly calls her Victoria Bartolo, not her given name of Vittoria or her married name of Bartalo.