Tragedy struck in Orbassano, Italy, as the deeply felt sorrow of one family culminated tragically when both parents took their own lives, just two years after their daughter’s shocking suicide. Fifty-nine-year-old pharmacist Cristina Masera and her husband, 64-year-old family doctor Alessandro Giacoletto, are remembered as pillars of their community. Their departure left behind not just grief but questions about the pain they carried from the abuse their daughter faced.
Chiara Giacoletto, aged just 28, had died by suicide on February 4, 2022. Before this devastating act, she revealed to her parents the haunting truth of her childhood: she had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a deceased relative, enduring years of trauma without her parents knowing. Her struggle began to manifest as severe anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia started tormenting her when she was just 23.
Reflections on Chiara’s life revealed just how deeply her traumatic past affected her. It was only when she began therapy and recorded her experiences, which came to light only shortly before her untimely death, prompting devastating realizations for her family.
Just days before their own deaths, Alessandro and Cristina opened up about their unbearable pain to their local paper, 'L’Eco del Chisone.' The couple had initially shared the story of Chiara’s abuse and subsequent death with the hope of raising awareness about mental health struggles stemming from similar experiences. But the weight of their grief proved to be too much to bear.
On December 9, 2024, the couple was found lifeless together inside their car, parked securely inside their garage. A harrowing find, they were still alive when discovered but critically injured. Cristina succumbed nine days later, followed by Alessandro's passing on December 23 at San Luigi Hospital. Their loss has reverberated throughout the Orbassano community.
During their interview, the couple poignantly stated, "Suicide is not the correct word. Whoever ends their life due to violence is the victim of psychic murder, and their tormentor is a murderer." This powerful sentiment encapsulated the pain they held not only for their daughter but for the experiences of others suffering silently.
Community reactions poured out across social media following their deaths. Many expressed disbelief at the tragic fate of the Giacoletto-Masera family, with friends sharing memories and lamenting the loss of the family’s light. One poignant message from the Agafh association, which supports families with disabled children, read: "We want to believe you are all three together, just as you wanted."
The heartbreak felt by friends and colleagues reflected the respect the couple held within society; both were celebrated for their commitment to their professions and community. Many regarded Alessandro as one of the finest doctors they had encountered, praising his kindness and compassion. His patients expressed their gratitude, confirming what was evident — he was not just a healer but someone who cared deeply.
Chiara’s story is one of secrecy — of pain hidden behind smiles, suppressed by the very fabric of familial bonds. Her parents were thrust suddenly and painfully from the role of protectors to victims of the very seductive forces of grief and shame. Alessandro's haunting words to friends before his death, "Chiara was our only daughter and on February 4, 2022, we died too. Living no longer makes sense," encapsulates the tragic descent they experienced.
This terrible situation, where three lives were extinguished due to abuse, speaks to larger societal issues surrounding mental health awareness and the imperative need to engage with and support those impacted by such traumas. There is still much work to be done to identify these invisible struggles earlier and to create open environments where individuals can seek help without fear of judgment.
The Giacoletto and Masera family’s tragic tale serves as yet another stark reminder of the scars left throughout families touched by abuse, and the myriad ways grief manifests. Damage caused by such unspeakable acts doesn't just disappear, but often festers, creating echoes of despair across generations.
Finally, the loss is felt deeply across Orbassano, where friends, patients, and community members mourn all three members of this family whose lives intertwined tragically. Such sorrow resonates as they honor the memory of Chiara, Alessandro, and Cristina, reminding everyone about the significant impacts domestic abuse can have, even among those who might be perceived as strong.
They should not be forgotten, their painful story can serve as catalyst for dialogue and change around discussions of mental health and abuse. The community's grief has become the backdrop for renewed calls for awareness and actions to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
