Testimonials

Some selected kind words from happy customers (most recent at the top).
Also check out some very special endorsements at the end.

After meeting at the hotel for a while we drove to our ancestral village to the home of a new cousin for lunch, wine and grappa. Once we drank grappa two sisters in their 90’s) started telling stories (or tales as Maria was calling them). There was laughter, and rolling eyes from the older adults…… From your research, we knew about Concetta and Paulo but not about Raffaele and Giovanni! Also, I didn’t have concrete addresses for Concetta’s descendants but the translator questioned people on the street and as fate would have it, one of the people that we asked was Maria Assunta…..We took a hike down a country road; as we hiked we ate red and white grapes, two kinds of figs, green beans, red peppers, walnuts, dates, pomegranates’ figs…and for those of us who were unaware – and didn’t pay attention to the warning – ate an olive from the tree. Luckily, it was on the way back after we had tasted everything else.

We have been searching for our Italian ancestors for over 30 years with little success. I found the Pallante Center and Debora Hill on line and it has turned out to be a wonderful experience. She is so knowledgeable and her attention to detail and her communication with me was so appreciated. Her representative in Italy was able to visit Brondello, send pictures, find the very street where our ancestors lived, and still live. She even went the extra mile to find someone to communicate with the Priest who was in the hospital. Debora made a gedcom of the relatives she was able to find. We are leaving in 10 days with the representative taking us to the top of the mountain to walk in our families footsteps. I will, always, be grateful I was led to Debora and the Pallante Center and recommend them highly to anyone interested in Italian Research. Her work is above and beyond expectation. Judy, Utah

Legal Heir Search: As an estate executor, I needed to find two long-lost cousins in Italy. I reviewed many international heir search firms, but I never felt confident until I spoke with Deborah Hill. She is incredibly knowledgeable and detail-oriented, and she and her staff accomplished the task quickly and economically. She has my highest recommendation.

– Angelo in NY

My name is Steven LaPidus. I had been stuck at a wall in my genealogical search for my mother’s family in Italy. I found Debora and the Pallante Center on the internet and found great reviews of her services on many web pages. I was happy to know that she was a local person from Glens Falls, New York as I am located close by in Clifton Park. She has a team including representatives in Italy that do in person searches in the local home towns of our ancestors. She was able to find the birth certificate of my grandmother in a matter of days! Then my family tree grew back all the way to the 1700’s. I was able to travel to my grandparents home towns with data that made it possible to meet with my grandmother’s sisters daughter and her family and to have a conversation with them about our whole family. This would never been possible without the efforts and work of the Pallante Center. I would recommend Debora’s services to anyone who needs genealogy searches done in Italy.

OMG!!! I can’t believe this!!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!!! You are a miracle worker!! This is my DREAM!!! Relatives and more relatives! I feel like I have a family. This is fabulous! Thank you! ……….We’re at the airport ready to depart! You all have been fabulous and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Your professionalism and patience is outstanding. I have recommended your services to many friends.–Carol in Massachusetts.
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You and your researchers are an absolute godsend! Lucianna (from an heir search firm)

O MY GOD! FANTASTIC JOB! THANK YOU! I did not want the video to end. I played it 5 times and find something new in it each time. Too bad about my house. Makes me want to cry seeing it all torn apart, but I got to see the general area and layout. I will give each of my children a video, to remember where I came from. You made my day! It seems that the next step is to actually go and visit my dear San Pietro Avellana. Thanks, Debora, I will highly recommend you to my Italian friends in the Pittsburgh area. — Anna ( A review of our aerial video by drone of her village.)

I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you did and the tremendous book you sent. It’s really quite special and we’re very, very satisfied. If in the future we decide to pursue further we will most certainly go through you and your organization. –Chris in Ohio

I am a Canadian who married a Peruvian with an Italian ancestor (born 1820), then travelled and lived in Peru. I contracted Ms. Hill around Sept. 2014, giving her very minimal information regarding my husband’s great great grandfather and after attempting for about 9 months to find the documents by myself unsuccessfully. I found her conduct very professional, and knowledgeable about Italian records, and how their bureaucracy works. She patiently answered all my questions, and would give me appropriate time frames of how long things should take (even when I would pester her about Italian wait times, which can be lengthy). She used a variety of resources, including online registries and people in Italy, who will do the church searches/registries personally. I felt her prices were fair, and was very pleased with her work. I received my documents in a timely and efficient manner. I would recommend her to anyone. Natalie

I have been working with Debora Hill of the Pallante Center for Italian Research for more than two months and have been very pleased with the results of her research. I had very little information about my grandmother, but with a few clues, Ms. Hill has been able to provide me with family tree information several generations back. The cost has been very reasonable and research has been done very quickly. Communication by email has been excellent. I have received copies of many family documents along with detailed trees. I recommend her work enthusiastically. Margaret of Pittsburgh

I cannot say enough GOOD about Debora Hill-Pallante and her Pallante Research Institute. Debora could find a needle in a haystack in Siberia !!!! She is AMAZING ! After a 5 year search for my Great grandfather’s Birth Record in a small town in Italy, she FOUND it as well as the Marriage Banns which greatly improves my chances -if not guarantees it – fulfilling my dream of becoming an Italian citizen ! HOW can one replay someone who has such a direct influence in changing your life ???? I had previously hired and fired two companies who claim to be able to do the same thing but failed miserably and frankly had no answers for why we could not locate the precious document anywhere, but Debora and her Pallante Center for Italian Research succeeded in doing what others only PROMISE TO DO ! I am ETERNALLY grateful to her for such exhaustive and TIRELESS effort and attention to my case and ALL FOR A VERY REASONABLE price. She has won me over and now I will stay on as a client extending these searches into searching my family genealogy and who knows where this will lead. Chapter 2 in my life has begun ! I am thrilled and curious to see what adventures lie ahead. THANK YOU DEBORA !!! Davide in New Jersey

Deborah, bless you. I’m so ecstatic seeing the progress especially since were leaving for Italy Sept 20th with the only thing we wanted to do was visit the towns of my forefathers. My wife and I anxiously await information so we can plot our trip. Warm regards, Joe (Long Island, New York)

You are FABULOUS! Thank you for all this information, I am so excited, I am breathless, this is so great.Cheryl in California

Our family is in Australia. It was no problem for The Pallante centre to deal with International enquiries. Deb Hill kept us informed of our request’s progress. We are really THRILLED with our family history results. thanks Deb:)

It has been very exciting processing these documents [you sent] and I cannot tell you happy my family and I are to finally know some of this information. I was totally blown away by how much was found! –David in NY

Deb, You are amazing! I can’t tell how nice it is to receive this information so quickly. Lu in Seattle, Washington

Debora, We had a fantastic time in Sicily! The guide and translator you recommended was a tremendous help. About a dozen family members met us as soon as we entered the town square. What wonderful people. Terrific Sicilian hospitality!! We were like movie stars entering the town!! They took us all over the town, to where my Dad was born, to the Church, a terrific restaurant, and an impressive cemetery. Then about 40 relatives greeted us at a family reunion. We could not have asked for a better time. Turns out that I have relatives scattered all over Italy. Everyone has been making friends with me on Facebook and the family who located to Northern Italy and Rome want to meet us. –Joeseph in France.

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I want to thank you for all you have done to help us locate our relatives and also for recommending Ciro and Giovanni who helped us organize meeting our cousinsDebora, Thanks for the great news ! Things are falling into place, and it is because of your efficient research, and your contacts in Italy. I need to digest everything. There is a lot here. I am so happy! Xxxooo I love that you are so good-hearted and conscientious!!!! I appreciate all the extra you have done for me. I am very happy with your work, and I want to thank you also for recommending a personal escort and translator for our trip to Sicily to meet living relatives. Your Sicilian contacts were a great help. You did above and beyond. It should be an enjoyable time for us. Looking forward to describing our trip to you when I get back. Thx for your devotion and extra work to my case.—-Joe

You made the impossible – POSSIBLE! I can’t imagine what it must feel like not to know who you are or where you came from. Now we know the ‘where’ part of the puzzle and next we will find out the ‘from who’! We can’t thank you enough for EVERYTHING! An all the way back to the 1500’s !!!! Ooooo can you hear us all yelling & cheering from Australia!!! We know who Lorenzo belongs to now. We might break ur record for the earliest family tree documents! You and your team really set the bar for other researchers. Thank you so very much! What a journey Italy ->Australia -> America” . Well done ! I would never have been able to get past the Australian brick wall with our search, without Debora and the Pallante Center. One brother went to Australia n and the other to New York. We need to reconnect those two families next! — Rose

Debora, This is terrific ! Thank you again for all of the information to date. This has been extremely interesting and helpful! I do want to continue to build upon this momentum and information with a new session. All the best! –Rich

Deb,

You haven’t heard from me for a while because I have been trying to assimilate all the names from that mountain of documentation you unearthed for me… This new material opens up the board to many new possibilities…I’m inspired me to proceed with further research, and now want to set the bar even higher. A little Christmas present to myself. I will send you this newest to do list for your commentary, which is always so insightful… I am delighted with the results so far. –Jack in Chicago

This is so exciting, thank you! A second marriage that we didn’t know about ! Thanks for your hard work, I’m excited to dive into the rest of your findings! I think you’re fantastic…. –Rebecca of Oregon

Debora, My fiancé loved the Christmas surprise! I put the information into a scrap book for her, and she was so excited when she opened it and reviewed it. I enlarged the picture of the town that you edited and made it into the cover, and then organized all the information. It worked out great. Very cool ! –Eric in Pennsylvania

I really appreciate the work you are doing, and I look forward to picking it up again. –Matt in San Francisco

Fantastic work so pleased to find all this . Yes will defiantly do more later in the year ! — Faye in Australia

Debora, I received the family tree today, and I cannot thank you enough! You were so prompt in answering all my questions and your researchers so professional. I wish I found you years ago! Would have saved me a lot of aggravation. I have referred several of my friends to you, and will certainly continue to use your services in the future. Thank you again for all your help… made my dream come true finding my Nonno’s family. —Carol in Massachusetts

I was so pleased with Deb’s work on my father’s Caccamo family that I had her continue on and research my mother’s family from San Stephano Medio in Messina Province ( A much more difficult task since my mother barely remembered the name of the town and didn’t know the names of her grandparents.) –Phillip G. in New York City

Thank you for your great efforts and for those of your team in Italy. You have uncovered a huge family tree that connects me to many living relatives…. I will be getting to meet many new friends during my two days in Italy because of your efforts. -Steve

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! If I was there I would give you a hug. –Teresa R.M. of Buck’s Co., Pennsylvania

Deb, Thank you soooooo very much as usual! My mother would recommend you for sainthood if she could-we all appreciate U and Max’s help more than you can know! –Amb. A. in Canada

Wow! I just got all of your wonderful packages!!!! How exciting! Wow…the photos are fantastic and so great to see as I doubt I will ever get to Licata..the shells….I love….They would never have made it to this neck of the woods in a million years were it not for you sending them to me- THANK YOU! I love the marriage certificate for my great grandparents. WOW!!! So cool! I am fascinated by the surnames…Thank you so very much for your kindness and for sending me those lovely tokens of your journey to Licata. I really appreciate it so much.– Best, Jackie of Penn.

To date you are the only individual who provided any viable assistance! –Bob C. of Massachusetts

“Really enjoyed working with Debora Hill. I would use her services again and recommend her.” – Shannn in Florida

“Thank you for everything Deb. It has been a fun experience working with you the past few months.” – Tony in Ohio

“Thank you very much indeed; it is exactly what I was looking for. I am delighted with your help. Thanks again.” – Manuel, Univ. of Berkley, California.

“I have used several professionals in constructing my family history and Deb is by far the best. She has a unique knowledge of Italian customs and traditions that takes me beyond just names and dates. She uses her knowledge of the Italian language to translate birth / death certificates, marriage licenses etc from the 1700s and 1800s and takes this information to write personal histories about each of my ancestors. She has a network of partners in Italy that can assist her with high quality work. She is always working and responds within hours to my emails and is a joy to work with. As a result of two years of work with Deb, i have a 250 page book I built on ancestry with personal ancestor stories, 200 plus year old documents, pictures, from 10 different towns my ancestors came from in Italy.” – Eric of Massachusetts

“Dear Deb,You could have had a career as a private investigator or with the CIA. I mean this as a compliment. I followed the logic of all your speculations–all your comments and thoughts positively reflect on your years of experience and subject matter knowledge in 18th, 19th, andearly 20th century Southern Italian history and culture. You are what is known as an “expert”! I don’t think a brain surgeon keeps track of any more details than this involves!” – Cynthia S. of Saratoga Co. NY

I received the package you sent today. All very exciting stuff! I can’t thank you enough for piecing together my family tree. John in NY

Wow! That’s an amazing number of documents! thanks–Jack

“I appreciate all your hard work and am both satisfied and grateful for what you’ve given us. Ciao” – Phillip G. in New York City

The books are beautiful. Thank you so much!” – Kathy V. in Vineland, NJ

“Deb,You go, girl! Great information. You amaze me with what you find and how quickly you do it. You’ve found awesome stuff! I was so excited to read your message that I had to print it, run around a bit and then sit down and pore over it. There was no one at home to scream about it to, although when Husband called from New York, I gave him a complete rundown over the phone. You found Antonino!!!!” – C. Venturella

“Thanks – you’ve done an incredible job. Once I look through it & digest it, I’ll see what I’d like to do next. Thanks again” – Liz P. of Raleigh, NC

“Debora, I received the pictures and they’re great! That must really be a small village. I believe the picture of the pink church is the one that his grandparents must have been married in sinceit’s the church directly in the town. I’m meeting with the artist on Monday and I think we will be able to take a couple of the pictures to combine into one painting. Thanks again for everything. I’ll definitely keep your email!” Toi H.

“Deb: I’ve dropped other genealogists and stuck with you because of the way you treat me, I trust you, and I respect your opinion. Peace :-) ” – Doug H. in Florida

“Please have your customers write me anytime you need a referral….it would be my extreme pleasure to recommend and endorse you ANYTIME!….the Pagoria site would look like a vacant bowling alley without your devotion and work ethic.” – J.(Pietro) Biamonte of Chicago Hts., Illinois & California

I am very pleased with all the gleanings from Italy. It has given me a lot of new ancestors to think about, and many hours of entertainment and satisfaction. You are an uncanny researcher the way you intuited that the marriage record of Giovanni and Caterina would contain extra information because they might be cousins. Thank you for all of your painstaking editing of all the wonderful documents. Jack

“I am delighted with the results you are getting!” – R.DeLotto

“I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts to find my g. grandparents on the ship registers. I realize that your work stretched beyond the fee I paid, and I appreciate that. THANK YOU, YOUR FRIEND GINA MARIE”

Thank You! I am overjoyed! – Phil

“You can’t imagine how happy I am with all the info from you and Max… Thanks again.” – Pat M.

“Thank you so much for all your hard work. The book just arrived and it looks wonderful ! Phil would have been so pleased. I plan to make copies for my children.” – Helen C. in California

“The Simonelli book is very nicely illustrated and expertly researched. It will be much appreciated at the Thanksgiving reunion. Thank you for all the wonderful work you’ve done over the past two years. You can always count on me as a reference to new customers.” – Phil

“Deb, The journey continues and I will need more of your fantastic help. Your project has helped to inspire my wedding in Italy in May. It’s taking place within view of the home of my relatives you help us to find. P.S. My father still tears up everytime he reads the book you complied.” – Dante P. In California

“Deb, I would refer you to anyone because you already know so much about families, especially in Sicily. It’s a passion for you. You do such a great job! I look at all the documents you sent and marvel over holding that piece of history in my hand which came all the way from Italy, a place I can only dream of, and a time I can’t even imagine, and still, I can put a face to the document and kind of get a peek into what my ancestors lives were about–it amazes me. I looked at alot of ads from other researchers and yours just pops out as unique because you’ve already “done the homework’ so to speak.I know what you do is very difficult work, but also very interesting to be a part of all that history.” – Jackie S. in Millville, NJ (Barbaccia & Sineni families of Caccamo, Sicily)

“Oh Wow !! How very very fun to have these names and records ! I cant wait to tell my Mom these names! What a treat this is going to be! I cant tell you how excited I am to be embarking on this with you!” – Lil of Reno

“Dear Debora, You have obviously been working really hard, and I’m immensely impressed that you have got back four generations already! Please keep it all coming! With very best wishes, and many thanks,” – Anthony Adolph (U.K.)

“DEAR DEBORA, I RECEIVED THE ADDRESS FOR MY COUSIN IN ITALY THAT YOU LOCATED FOR ME. AS A MATTER OF FACT I CALLED HIM AND WE SPOKE ABOUT OLD TIMES IT WAS GREAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE POMISED TO CALL EACH OTHER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP. I COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.THANK YOU” – THERESA

“Hi Deb: I’ve been away for a little while and just received your package in the mail. It’s great stuff ! Thank you. I’ll get the website updated with the new information ASAP ! ” – Fr. in Florida

Deb Hill of the Pallante Center comes very highly recommended, and I’ve met her on several occasions. She is professional and thorough, and a stickler for accuracy and documentation. I know she’s done quite a bit of work with Sicilian records. All in all, I think you’d be very satisfied with her. I’ve never heard a complaint about her work. 2008, Grace Lancieri Olivo, Editor of Comunes of Italy Magazine

“Debora: Thank you so much…you gave gone above and beyond the call of kindness and it is appreciated.” – Bob

“Hi Deb, That was fantastic ! Much more than I first expected.” – Bill in Colorado

Thank you for a very comprehensive report. It was easy to understand. I am excited about the next steps! –Adrienne of Arizona

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“Debora, I received the package you sent today. All very exciting stuff. I can’t thank you enough for piecing together my family tree. I definitely want you to continue researching.” – John T.

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“Thanks for the package. Really good stuff ! WOW! That was way more than I expected right off the bat. By the way Happy New Year ! Ya, the genealogical wall chart was beautiful. My grandfather was blown away at how old some of his ancestors were–living near 100 years back in the 1700-1800s. Good genes ! –Jason in California

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SPECIAL ENDORSEMENTS

Pallante Center was endorsed on FOX NEWS ! February 21, 2013At the bottom of this page link under the Genealogy heading: Look what they said ! “Italian Americans turn to the Pallante Center for Italian Research for genealogical research.” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/02/21/8-trips-must-do-once/#ixzz2NTKPOawV

Pallante Center worked on several research projects for London-based TV shows, co-hosted by Anthony Adolph ! – Broadcaster “Dear Debora, You have obviously been working really hard, and I’m immensely impressed that you have got back four generations already! Please keep it all coming! With very best wishes, and many thanks,” Anthony Adolph in London

-Channel 4’s Three part series: Extraordinary Ancestors
-guest on radio chat shows and a royal expert for BBC News 24
–Antiques Ghostshow for Living TV.

http://anthonyadolph.co.uk/television-radio-internet-and-the-press/

June 24, 2013: Pallante in the News again !

We the Italians, June 24, 2013 Interviews– “Italiani d’America in cerca delle loro radici” by Umberto Mucci

http://www.wetheitalians.com/index.php/interviste/3150-italiani-d-america-in-cerca-delle-loro-radici and L’Opinione June 24, 2013 http://opinione.it/esteri/2013/06/22/mucci_esteri-22-06.aspx

Endorsed by The Comunes of Italy Magazine 2008

Endorsed by Italian-American Museum in Manhattan!

You are doing an excellent job ! I very much appreciate the research that you’ve done for my family tree ! —Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and Director
His ancestors are from Caccamo, Sicily. (Our specialty!)http://www.italianamericanmuseum.org/mission.htm

Endorsed by Christine Fontanelli, famous singer !

“Deb works tirelessly to promote our great Italian Heritage! Hope to meet you Deb at my 8th-annual “Christmas in Italy” show in NYC 11/27/11”

(I have met her in person twice. ) Cristina’s family owned an original Italian food center in Little Italy, NYC. She strives to preserve the great songs of Italy in their traditional format with the mandolin, guitar, accordion, etc. and to teach them to younger generations. A professional opera singer, actor, international recording artist, Cristina has performed at the White House for President Clinton and Inauguration for President George W. Bush, as well as all over the world. She specializes in Italian and Italian-American music. Opera, Cabaret, Musicals. http://www.cristinafontanelli.com/

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