Julia Petta
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Julia Buccola Petta (1892-1921) was a housewife who became known following her death as The Italian Bride. She was the daughter of Filomena Buccola. She died at the age of 29 in 1921 while giving birth.
Following her death, Petta was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Hillside. Petta was buried in her wedding dress. A photo of Petta in her wedding dress was placed on her monument, which also features a statue of her based on this photo. Soon after Petta's death, her mother began experiencing dreams in which Petta was telling her that she was still alive.
Six years after Petta's death, Filomena secured permission to have the grave opened and her daughter exhumed. The casket was found to have decomposed, but when it was opened Petta's body was still intact - her body had not decayed at all. Her mother took a picture of Petta in her casket, which was placed on the monument and is still there to this day. Why Petta's body had not decayed following burial has never been explained. Some have attributed Petta's condition upon being exhumed to her being incorruptible, while others have attributed the condition of her body to the type of soil found in the cemetery.
Today Petta is among the more well known people buried at Mount Carmel, along with prior Bishops and Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and organized crime figures such as Al Capone.
