Who is Annita, Consolata and Filomena Marrocco from History: A Novel and what is their importance?

Annitah, Consolata and Filomena Marrocco take Ida and Useppe into their home for a short time. The women are waiting, in vain, for their fiance and son, Giovannnino, to return from the Russian front. He has been missing in action for a long time. Filomena is a dressmaker. Consolata's brother, Clemente, returns from the war but is missing a hand and is bitter at being disabled.