Chiara was born on January 9, 1984, in Rome, Italy, as the youngest of 2 to Roberto and Maria Corbella.

She was known for her joy and simple faith. She was never ostentatious. She was always cheerful, smiling, and attentive to everything around her. She found the bright side of things, not taking herself too seriously.

From when she was very young, her mom brought her and her sisters to a prayer group. They grew up with fellow children of members, and she developed a very strong inner faith. Her and her sister would lock themselves in their room in silence for more of a listening prayer than a verbal prayer. She had the same struggles and fears we all encounter but she cast everything on to the Father, to welcome the grace needed for whatever step she needed to make.

In her later teens and into her adult life, she leaned on the friars in Assisi and took vocation courses with the youth center.

At the age of 18, she met her future husband, Enrico Petrillo, while on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Although they were physically separated from each other several times, they were always brought back together and were wed 6 years later in Assisi, Italy.

Within the first 2 years of their marriage, they suffered the death of 2 children, Maria and David, both of whom died from incurable disabilities, in their parent’s arms, less than an hour after birth.

She became pregnant with their 3rd child in 2010, and medical reviews show that he was in perfect health. The joyful news was short-lived as she was diagnosed with a rare form of carcinoma cancer. Doctors removed a tumor on her tongue but as the cancer metastasized, it became difficult for her to speak and see clearly.

Any treatment she would receive would have fatal consequences to the child she was carrying, but waiting would have compromised its effectiveness. In spite of the excruciating pain that developed, she decided to spare the child’s life instead of her own and carried the pregnancy to completion. She was always careful to not let others see her suffer or complain and said yes to everything God sent her way.

They made peace with the reality that Chiara would never grow old with Enrico or watch Francesco grow up.

Francesco was born on May 30, 2011, and her cancer spread aggressively.

She died while dressed in her wedding dress, surrounded by her family and friends, on June 13, 2012. She was 28. Her funeral mass was celebrated in the Saint Fracisca Romana Church by Cardinal Vallini where he referred to her as the 2nd Gianna Beretta.

A cause for beatification was opened 5 years after her death in accordance with Canon Law.

For God’s Glory.