Cocchetti, Annunciata, Bl.
COCCHETTI, ANNUNCIATA, BL.
Religious, foundress of the Sisters of St. Dorothy of Cemmo; b. Rovato, Lombardy, Italy, May 9, 1800; d. Cemmo, Val Camonica, Lombardy, Italy, March 23, 1882. After the death of her parents, Annunciata was raised by her devout grandmother, a noblewoman. She received her education from the Ursulines until their suppression by Napoleon, then from tutors in her home. Annunciata lived with her uncle in Milan for six years following the death of her grandmother in 1823. In 1831, she joined Erminia Panzerini at Cemmo, where they taught girls. With the help of Bishop Girolamo Verzeri, Annunciata founded the Sisters of Saint Dorothy of Cemmo (1840). After receiving training as a religious in Venice, she returned to Cemmo to govern the community until her death. Pope John Paul II beatified her on April 21, 1991.
Bibliography: a. zucchetti, Il pane sul muricciolo: beata Annunciata Cocchetti, fondatrice delle Suore Dorotee di Cemmo (Milan 1990). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1991): 564.
[k. i. rabenstein]