This site is dedicated to the memory of Amalie Berthold Zanet (Zanetti).
Amalie Berthold was born in Germany in 1873. She married Antonio Zanetti. In 1901, she moved to New York with her husband and six-week old daughter Amalia. Upon their arrival to the United States, the Zanetti’s changed their surname to Zanet.
Amalie gave birth to a second daughter, Katie. Her husband Antonio died two months following the baby’s birth. Katie passed away before age one. Amalie found herself in a tough position - with limited knowledge of the English language, no relatives, and few friends in a new country, she would need to take care of a young daughter as a single mother.
She did the best she could under the circumstances - washing and ironing clothes to make ends meet. Some of her work was done as a live-in housekeeper. Amalie suffered from delusional thoughts during this time, and move from job to job quite frequently.
Her life was not void of joy. She was a member of a local German club, where she would sing and dance. In later years, Amalie visited her daughter once a week, and brought a variety of favorite foods to share while they talked. Amalie spoke often of her family of origin - a large one with a dozen siblings. She returned to Germany twice to see them - before and after World War Two.
In 1953, at age eighty, her thoughts and actions became too difficult for those around her. She was placed in Pilgrim State Hospital in Islip, New York, and remained there until she passed away in 1959. Her psychiatric incarceration was a tragic ending to a challenging life.
It is my hope that this site provides options for individuals and their families - ones that are more humane, and offer hope for recovery.
May we continue to search for answers
Until the mental wards are emptied
Their doors shut forever
May Amalie’s spirit remain in eternal peace
Duane Sherry, Great-Grandson of Amalie Zanet (Zanetti)
