About Joanne

Joanne Branciforte Lukasik has researched the people of Melilli and their descendants (including those who emigrated to America) for over 20 years.


JBL has served 7 years on the Board of Trustees of the Godfrey Memorial Library, a genealogy and history library in Middletown, Connecticut.  She has held multiple programs at the Russell Library, the Godfrey Memorial Library and the Rathbun Memorial Library, titled:


  • "Tracing Your Italian Roots - with emphasis on researching ancestors from Melilli, Sicily"
  • "Ellis Island Archives - Researching Your Family's Genealogy"

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JBL has researched and compiled an extensive database with over 11,500 individuals Melilli natives and their descendants (and still growing).


She has also researched and compiled a database dedicated to Ellis Island emigrants who specifically listed "Melilli" as their last residence on the passenger list.  This database is comprised of over 4,700 individuals.


JBL has also researched and extracted into a database a Midwife Log with over 900 birth records in Middletown, Connecticut and Ansonia, Connecticut. 

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 Benvenuto,


My unofficial DNA is all Italian:

​                        50% from Melilli, Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

​                        50% from Pontecorvo, Frosinone, Latium, Italy


My heritage, although 100% Italian, consists of two families with similar and different cultures.  Each family spoke a different "Italian" - I do not say dialect because (in my humble opinion) Sicilian is a language unto itself.  Food was similar with some differences, but family love and family loyalty were equally strong and equally expressed.


When I started my family genealogy research, I had very little information (some of it quite inaccurate).  Aren't we all sorry we didn't ask more questions?  My advice: listen more, ask more questions.  My expectation was that I would put together pedigree charts and compile a list of ancestors.  So many surprises resulted from my quest - romantic sagas, murder, family secrets and much more......


The journey (always ongoing) has been fun, frustrating, exciting, challenging and rewarding.


As an avid genealogist, I have done research for numerous people in the USA and Italy.  We have often discovered that we are cousins - as close as 3rd cousins and some a bit more removed.


My intent with this web site is to assist you with your historic journey and to introduce you and your family to your Melilli ancestors.  I would happily assist you in researching your ancestors from Melilli .


To research the Melilli Families is my passion, so I am willing to carry out these services at no charge.


I am looking forward to hearing from you!


Sinceramente,


Joanne