Rachele was born on 1 August, 1914 in Italy, she died on 11 June, 2016 in Newcastle, NSW; just under two months away from turning 102. She, and her husband Mario Merlo, who died aged 82 years, are in a crypt together [#39].
There is a polished black marble cover, with gilded writing, and a cameo photo for each, with a 'Christ on the Cross' between the details of each. Rachele lived at Merewether, a suburb of Newcastle, just to the south, and on the coast.
The obituary in the Newcastle Herald of 15 June, 2016, reads: "Dearly loved wife of the late MARIO MERLO. Loving mother and mother-in-law of GEORGE and MAFALDA, JOHNNY and LEONIE. Loving nonna of PAUL and EDWINA, ROBERT and CORRENA, ANTHONY and ALI, DARREN and KIM, and LE-ANNE. Much loved great nonna of their families."
From the Billion Graves website, Mario Merlo was initially interred elsewhere in Sandgate Cemetery, with a black marble, heart-shaped headstone. (
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While it is not not known (by myself) at what stage in the 20th century that they came to Australia, but it could have easily been before the Second World War, or at the latest, with the large Post-War immigration of Europeans. Either way they would have seen large changes in Newcastle, and Australia in their lifetime.
The Crypt Area of Sandgate General Cemetery is at the very northern end of the Cemetery, with an entry just to the north.
Visited: 1505, Saturday, 8 July, 2017