Every time I visit the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Rosebank, I have at least one memorable encounter to enhance my understanding and knowledge of my Italian heritage. My latest “discovery” is Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro. Perhaps you would recognize her as Anita Garibaldi, the lover, wife, and life partner of General Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of two worlds one of the Museum’s namesakes.
Although there are no actual records to document her birth exactly, it is believed that Anita was born in 1821, in Laguna, Brazil. If you have the chance to visit the museum you will observe a mannequin representing Anita dressed in period clothing and you can listen to the accompanying audiotape describing her very full, active, but sadly brief life.
