GATTORNO, Rosa. – Foundress of the Daughters of St Anne, b. in Genoa on 14 Oct. 1831, d. in Rome on 6 May 1900. Her brief married life with her cousin Girolamo Custo (1852–58), wounded by sorrows, continued with the grave sorrows she experienced from her two children, was followed by a widowhood devoted to piety and charity. While assisting Frassinetti in directing his small associations, she received the inspiration to found a new institute, which began in Piacenza in March 1866, after an heroic victory over family resistance, taking the habit on 26 July of the following year.
Through untiring labour and continual journeys she led the Congregation to exceptional expansion without, however, managing to draw up the rules. Extraordinary charisms, among which an unusual frequency of bilocations, were the reward for her harsh penance and the humility with which she bore calumnies and maltreatment. In 1932 her body was found incorrupt and supple. The informative processes have been completed.