Fenton and I have been trying to trace the roots of my family.

This is for the Pacelle or Pacelli side of the family. Click here for the Kledaras side of the family

My grandfather, John Pacelle and my grandmother, Esther Maselli Pacelle, were both born in the United States.

Esther Maselli Pacelle (my grandmother) born 6/17/09 in Hamden. She was a baker and a dressmaker and a wonderful Italian cook. I would never go to an Italian restaurant because her food was so much better than any I could get. She died 3/24/97. She married John M. Pacelle (my grandfather), who was born 9/23/04. He was a factory worker and a custodian in the Hamden schools. I am a Yankee fan because of him. He died 1/25/62.

My grandmother had three brothers and two sisters: Millie, Margaret, Tony, Joe, Bill, and Nicholas, who died when he was 11.

My grandfather had four sisters Rae (a huge Yankees fan), Helen, Elsie, Kate and two bothers: Joe, George.

Pacelle appears to have been Pacelli when the family arrived in the United States. Somewhere along the line, some bureaucrat in New Haven, who was obviously not of Italian descent, must have changed the "i" to an "e", spelling it phonetically.

Esther’s mother was Maddalena Pannone Maselli (my great grandmother). She was born in Provencia de Caserta, Italy October 14, 1875. She was educated in a convent and came to the U.S. in 1889. After being widowed, she owned a small grocery store. She married Giuseppe (Joseph) Maselli (my great grandfather) who was born March 16 or 19, 1871. He was a mason. He died 8/19/23.

Giuseppe was one of eight children, all of whom were born in Castelpagano. Giuseppe was the second child of Nicola Maselli (born May 10, 1848 in Castelpagano) and  Filomena Colasanto.

My grandfather, John’s mother was Maria Franco Pacelli (my great grandmother), who was born in 1870 in Faicchio. She came to the United States in 1899. Her husband, Michel (Michael) Pacelli (my great grandfather), was born in Faicchio in January 19, 1872. He was a laborer, who came to this country in 1900.

Maria’s parents were Jacimo Franco and Damorida (Damonda) Porto Franco (my great, great grandparents).

Michel’s parents were Raffaela Landino and Mario Pacelli (my great, great grandparents).

My father had one older brother, John, an architect who lives in Southington with his wife Ann.

They have two children: Lisa, an attorney, and her younger brother Dana.