THE tearful son of a missing grandmother of four says he is baffled by her disappearance.

Seventy-year-old Lucia Amenta, also known as Lucy, is believed to have left her home in Sydney Road, at Fawkner, in Melbourne's north, about 11am (AEDT) last Saturday.

She has not contacted her family or accessed her bank account.

Her son, John Amenta, said today his father had gone out that morning to buy bread and milk and when he returned his wife had gone.

He said his mother had told his father she intended visiting friends.

But friends who spoke to her that morning said Mrs Amenta had told them she was staying home to make lunch for the family.

Mr Amenta said an exhaustive search of the area had failed to turn up any clues and he was deeply worried as she was so small and frail.

"She's only tiny,'' he said.

"She loves going out, she's a social butterfly. She loves her garden and loves her grandkids.

"I just can't believe she's gone.''

Mr Amenta said his mother would never go away without her husband.

"That's why it's not right, something's not right,'' he said.

Police are also concerned for her welfare, as she requires regular medication for a number of health conditions, including arthritis.

"If anyone sees her, just call us immediately, we miss her,'' Mr Amenta pleaded.

"It's just like she's vanished in thin air,'' he said.

Mrs Amenta does not drive, the keys to the house were in the door. She also left her mobile phone behind.

Mrs Amenta's husband, Italian-born Paolo, also known as Jack, speaks little English but said he was "desperate''.

Mrs Amenta is described as Caucasian with a slim build, straight brown hair and brown eyes.
 

A DISTRAUGHT family has made an emotional plea to the public after their mother disappeared into thin air from her Sydney Rd, Fawkner home.

Lucia Amenta, a 70-year-old grandmother of four, was making lunch on Saturday for her son and grandchildren when her husband, Paul Amenta, 79, went out to buy bread and milk.

When he returned he found an empty house and the table set with lunch.

Mrs Amenta's son John, 39, spoke exclusively to the Herald Sun and said it was out of character for his mother to just disappear.

"It's weird that she didn't ring me when she knew I was coming up here," Mr Amenta said.

"It is so strange, she's not going to cook and leave the food there on the kitchen table while its still warm."

"It just all doesn't make sense," Mr Amenta said.

Mrs Amenta left the house between 9.30am and 11am without her coat, mobile phone or house keys.

Mr Amenta said one of his mother's female friends had spoken to her shortly before she went missing.

"The last thing she said was 'Dad's taking too long to get the milk, hope nothing's happened to him', then he came home and she's gone," he said.

Mr Amenta said his mother couldn't drive, needed regular medication for high blood pressure and could not walk very far because of arthritis in her hips.

Mrs Amenta's son, Paul, 45, said the family has been searching for his mother at her local pensioner clubs in Glenroy and Greenvale.

"We've been searching all last night and the night before, we've been driving for hours," he said.

"We've tried the cemeteries and the hospitals, now we're just ringing the hospitals."

Mr Amenta said his mother spoke fragmented English with a strong Italian accent after moving to Melbourne in 1960.

He said his mother was very slim, short with dark hair and was wearing a long black skirt and flowered top when she went missing.

Police will today address the media at Fawkner police station with family in attendance.

Anyone who sees Lucia Amenta is asked to call Contact Crime Stoppers with information on 1800 333 000.
 

Help find my mum - son

Brigid O'Connell - Moreland Leader

28Jan08

A FAWKNER family is enduring an agonising wait as they pray and pound the pavement in search of their missing 70-year-old mother.

Police have not ruled out foul play in the disappearance of Lucia ``Lucy'' Amenta.

Mrs Amenta was cooking chicken schnitzels for a family lunch on Saturday, January 19, just before she disappeared.

John Amenta fought back tears last week as he explained that his mother, who has lived in Sydney Rd with his father Paul for 29 years, said she was going to walk to visit a friend that morning.

Mr Amenta said the back door of his parents' home was open with the keys in it when his father returned from the shops about 11.30am. Lucy's handbag was gone, but mobile phone and blood pressure medication left behind.

``How does someone just vanish?  The chicken schnitzels were still warm when I got there, and now we're just hoping she comes back,'' Mr Amenta said.

``She's a social butterfly; she loves going to the (Italian social) clubs with dad, and being out in her front garden; everyone in the area knows her.

``I used to talk to her on the phone three times a day, but now my 19-month-old daughter is wondering where she is and we miss her heaps.''

Mrs Amenta's bank account has not been touched and she has not contacted friends.

Mr Amenta Sr said it was unlike his wife, who does not speak very much English, to go off on her own.

Son John said that, while his mother did not suffer from memory loss or dementia, her sore arthritic hip had led to a painful limp.

The Armenta family has plastered shops in Jukes Rd and Anderson St, Fawkner, with posters.

Fawkner Leading Sen-Constable Kim Bramwell said police had not ruled out any possibilities regarding the disappearance. She urged Moreland residents to check their yards in case Mrs Amenta had fallen there.

``We want to find her alive and healthy, so we're urging local residents to check their front and back yards in case Lucia has fallen and can't get up,'' Leading Sen-Constable Bramwell said.

``She has trouble walking and it's been days since she had her high blood pressure medication, so we need anyone with any information to call us.''

Lucia is about 140cm, slim, with straight brown hair, brown eyes and wears glasses. She does not have a driver's licence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au