The Parteca family is a short-lived one in Maltese genealogy. Giovanna was one of the last few instances of a surname which no longer exists.
She is one of my paternal great-great-grandmothers.
She was born at midday on Monday 29 June 18631 2 in Valletta, Malta1 2. She was the daughter of Giuseppe Parteca and Carmela Borg1 2.
Rev Paul Camilleri2 baptised her on 1 July2 in St Paul’s Shipwreck Collegiate Church2, as Joanna Catherina Xaveria Vincentia Maria Paola1 2, but her parents wished her to be known as Giovanna1 2.
The state and religious records differ in one minor detail – the order of her middle names. In one, she’s listed as Giovanna Catherina Saveria Maria Vincentia Paola, and in the other as Giovanna Catherina Saveria Vincentia Maria Paola. With all those names, it’s an easy mistake to make.

Family
On Sunday 15 October 18823 4), she married Carmelo Borg3 4) in the Roman Catholic Church of St Rocco3 4) in Valletta, Malta3 4). Fr Matteo Hyzler officiated the wedding ceremony3 4).
Together they had one child I know of:

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Notable events
She was present at the birth of her grandson Paolo5. She went to register his birth with the authorities but, being illiterate, needed assistance with this5.
Like most women in those days, she didn’t work and was always described as a housewife5 6.
Her act of marriage lists her age as 20, but this is incorrect. In October 1882, she was only 19. Official records continue to be coy about her age because five years later she lists herself as being 217. Her family recorded her age as 65 when she died in 19276, which is also 1 year out.
She lived most of her life in Valletta but moved to Sliema at some point later in life5. Her last known address was 285, Prince of Wales road, Sliema8 which is the same as her son, Giuseppe’s.
Death
Her health had deteriorated towards the end and her parish priest administered the Roman Catholic last rites on Sunday 16 October 19279.
She died the day after on Monday 17 October9 8 at 11:009 8 at home in Sliema8 of chronic cardio nephritis8. Her family buried her in the Maria Addolorata cemetery, Paola8.
References
- Act of birth of Giovanna Parteca. (1863). Available at: https://certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 05 Mar. 2025][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Certificate of Baptism of Giovanna Parteca. (1863). Baptism Records Held in the Collegiate and Parish Church of St Paul Shipwrecked, Valletta, p.516[↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Act of Marriage of Carmelo Borg and Giovanna Parteca. Malta Government Public Registry, 15 Oct. 1882, www.certifikati.gov.mt. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025[↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Certificate of Marriage of Carmelo Borg and Giovanna Parteca. (1882). Registers of Marriages Held in the Collegiate and Parish Church of St. Paul Shipwrecked (Malta), (475-476[↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Act of birth of Paolo Borg. (1913). Malta Government Public Registry. [online] Available at: www.certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Act of birth of Giovanna Parteca. (1927). Malta Government Public Registry. [online] Available at: https://certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 02 Apr. 2025][↩][↩]
- Act of birth of Giuseppe Borg. (1887). Available at: https://certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 28 Jan. 2025][↩]
- Act of death of Giovanna Parteca. (1927). Malta Government Public Registry. [online] Available at: https://certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 02 Apr. 2025][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
- Extract of Death of Giovanna Parteca. (1927). Liber Mortuorum (Parish of Sacro Cuor, Sliema). Entry 1136[↩][↩][↩]