MARY ABELA, A PORT SAID CHILDHOOD

Kathy's mom, Mary was born in Port Said, Egypt, in 1920. Her parents were both Maltese, and her father, Michael Abela, worked for the British Consulate. She lived there until 1937, when she came to America and settled in Brooklyn, New York. She now lives in Santa Barbara, California. Her beautiful childhood memories are of a place that no longer exists as it was, except in the memories of those who shared the unique experience of living in that international environment at that time. Email Kathy & Rick with comments and suggestions. kathyandrick@oldflutes.com.

Here's mom on her 83rd birthday, December 15, 2003

She has had five children, seven grandchildren, and now has four great grandchildren.

Here is a photo of the family in Egypt.

This photo was taken at Uncle Alfred Gatt's Villa, (Mary's mother's brother) on the occasion of a visit from Tessie (Gatt) Mackey and her daughter, Agnes, who had traveled from America to see the family.

Mary Abela, Kathy's mom, is in the front row, center, with the bow on her head. Her mother, Josephine (Giusippina)Gatt Abela, is behind her, to the right, with the beautiful embroidered dress. Mary's grandmother, Theresa Gatt, is behind her to the left.

*Theresa (Sapienza) Gatt (second row, center) had five children: Alfred, Tancred, Giusippina (Josephine) (Mary's mother), Dolores, Tessie and John. All of them are pictured in this portrait. See description below.