Rosanna Chiappetta (also known as Chauppette) was the oldest child of Gaetano "Anthony" Chiappetta and Catherine "Kate" Canatella, immigrants from Italy who settled in Plaquemines Parish, arriving in about 1884 and 1890, respectively. She appears with her parents and 3 siblings on the 1900 Census (Police Jury Ward 2; ED 38; Page 4-A, Family 81) in Bertrandville Village, Plaquemines Parish, a few farms away from the Branda family (Family 71, under the Americanized surname "Brann"). She and her family remained there on the 1910 Census (Police Jury Ward 2; ED 107; Page 4-B; Family 76 - with surname spelled "Chappetti"). Still living close by were the Branda children (Family 59), who'd lost both of their parents. Joseph Branda, age 23, was acting as the head of the family and running the family farm, and he, with his red hair, must have caught the eye of 16-year-old Rosanna. The two were married on 3 Jun 1911.

Although Joseph's youngest siblings may also have lived with the newlyweds for a time, they quickly moved from the farm to the city of New Orleans, where their only child, Elizabeth Dora Branda, was born on 23 May 1912. Joseph became an ice dealer while in the city and, when called to register for the draft during the Great War of 1917, was able to claim exemption as the sole support of his family. However, he died of pneumonia on 13 January 1919, leaving a widowed 25-year-old Rosanna to care for their 5 1/2-year-old daughter. Mother and daughter moved back to Plaquemines Parish to stay with Rosanna's parents and there appear on the 1920 Census (Woodlawn Plantation, Police Jury Ward 2; ED 16; Page 9-A; Family 170, under the surname "Chappette" although her siblings were mistakenly given the surname "Branda").

On 18 June 1921, Rosanna married again - to Lionel Joseph Ansardi, a 25-year-old native of Plaquemines Parish of Italian descent. Rosana and Lionel moved back to New Orleans, and Lionel worked as a trapper while Rosanna took care of their home, daughter Elizabeth and son Bernard Lionel Ansardi, born in July 1925. The family appeared on the 1930 Census in New Orleans at 1808 Gentilly Avenue (Ward 7; ED 102; Page 31-A; Family 442), and again on the 1940 Census at 6325 St Claude Street (Ward 9, ED 36-233; Page 15-B; Family 279). Rosanna's daughter Elizabeth had married in October 1930, and Lionel had opened his own business, a bar and restaurant, which employed various family members over the years including Elizabeth's husband, Remy Honoré.

Rosanna was again widowed on 21 August 1960 when Lionel died. She survived Lionel by 16 years (and first husband Joseph by 57 years) and died on 10 Dec 1976 at age 83.

Bio by TexasLass (Dec 2012)