By XAVIER SMERDON
FOR 49 years two Werribee sisters have lived side by side in identical houses, becoming best friends in the process.
Anna Vincenzino and Angela Rametta, who are origionally from Sicilia Vizzini, bought a block of land in Werribee in 1960.
Four years later they were moving into houses that were mirror images of each other.
Everything, even down to the measurements, front gardens and pot plants on the front verandas are the same.
For years they even drove the same model and colour of car and bought identical cups and plates to use on matching dinner tables.
With two years and two days in age separating them, the sisters said their unique living arrangement always seemed normal to them.
“I don’t know why we did it like this. I think it’s just the way we were brought up,” Angela said.
“We fought a lot when we were children because Anna is a stirrer, but when I came to Australia first I missed her so much.
“We feel nice and comfortable here and the children grew up together and now they all love each other.”
Now that both of their husbands have passed away, the sisters have knocked down a section of the fence dividing their properties to make it easier for them to visit each other.
If they still cannot be bothered to pop next door they often call each other on Skype to make sure they are both OK.
Their love for each other has grown even stronger over recent years and they even have dinner together every single night.
“She’s my best friend, the best sister, the best everything,” Anna said.
“We’re inseparable” Angela added, “my kids have a second mother now.
“She’s my most beautiful friend. She has been a friend, a sister and now that I am getting older she is like my mother, too.”
Their brother Joe also lives in Werribee and both sisters said they wished they had a third house for him.
In their identical houses Anna raised four children and has nine grandchildren while Angela has five children, 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
