Leone Caetani, Duke di Sermoneta and Prince of Teano (born 1869) and Ofelia (Fabiani) Caetani (born 1896) lived the privileged life of Italian aristocrats. The Caetani family can trace their ancestors to the 8th century B.C.E. and include among them two Popes. Duke Leone was also a renowned scholar and historian of Islam who contributed to the production of the 10 volume reference work Annals of Islam, still a standard reference text. Duke Leone also served as an artillery officer in the first war and for years as a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Duke Leone and Ofelia, Leone's second wife, had one child - a daughter born in 1917. The social changes which followed WW I precipitated a drastic reduction in the Caetani family fortunes and Duke Leone responded by relinquishing his titles to his brother Roffredo and abandoning his Islamic studies. The family immigrated to Canada along with their Danish secretary, 'Miss' Jûûl (who was a companion to Ofelia Caetani), and settled in the B.C. interior near Vernon. Duke Leone was an avid hunter and he had made previous trips to Canada. The first of these was to hunt grizzlies in the Kootenays in 1891 and he had fond memories of how he had enjoyed the Canadian wilderness on that trip.

Ofelia Caetani was known for her impeccable taste and fashionable wardrobe; she continued to make trips to Paris to buy clothes until 1931. Following Duke Leone's death in 1935, Ofelia lived a life of virtual seclusion which her daughter Sveva shared. It was during this time that Sveva began to paint. Ofelia passed away in 1960 following a lengthy illness. Following her mother's death in 1960, Sveva obtained a teaching degree and taught until her retirement in 1983. Although confined to wheelchair in later years, Sveva continued to paint. Sveva passed away in 1994.