Aceti Pietro ; Son: Mario ; Daughter: Giuseppina

Aceti, Pietro Aceti, Mario Aceti, Giuseppina The Aceti family from Gignese, near Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, was the owners of a butcher shop. One of the Acetis’ clients was the Jewish Manasse family, Guido Pacifico, Alberta Senigaglia and their daughter Wanda who had fled from Milan because of the aerial bombardments. They took with them all the material from their textile shop to a locality called La Parusciola, situated near Gignese. One day, towards the end of October 1943 after the German occupation of Italy, Mario, the son of Pietro Aceti, met them at the piazza near the family shop. They looked very sad and frightened so he invited them into the house. There, Guido Pacifico revealed to him that they were Jews and wanted by the police so they had to leave and did not know where to go. When Pietro Aceti heard the story, he ordered his daughter Giuseppina to hide the family above their apartment, on the second floor above the butcher shop. She was told also to take care of all their needs. They could never leave the house, to avoid suspicion. One day, Germans appeared in order to search the house because they had information that the Manasse family was hiding there. It was Giuseppina, who courageously stood up and said, “At least, at first drink a glass of wine”. They did not refuse food as well and she, together with her father and brother communicated lively with them, making believe that there were no Jews at the house. Afterwards, before they left they looked around briefly, guided by Giuseppina who showed them only the first floor. But that night, it became obvious that the Manasse family was saved by chance and they should leave at once. After several telephone inquiries conducted by their hosts, it was decided that they could hide in Forno, a small mountain village on Lago d’Orta. Despite the curfew, Mario took them there by a truck he used to transport meat. In Forno, they were hidden for sometime and then crossed the border intoSwitzerland. On August 18, 2003, Yad Vashem recognized Pietro, Mario, and Giuseppina Aceti as Righteous Among the Nations.