Grandaughter, or other family members reading?...please look into the possibility of this ITALIAN missing person's television show running a story on your family. I think the possible Palermo connection and the "Louis Sodder" photo sent years later would be VERY intriguing to the producer and the viewers of this show!!! If any of the children were moved to Italy...this show might help you find some answers. Don't hesitate...it is a very long airing show and hopefully you can get the Sodder Children story on it before it goes off the air. The show has an associated website, which also might help you publicize the case in Italy. See below. I pray this show will air your family's story and that it will lead to some answers for you.
http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/index.html
From Wikipedia
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_l'ha_visto?
"Chi l'ha visto? Is a television program dedicated to finding missing persons and unsolved mysteries, aired on Wednesday evening prime time on Rai 3 and conducted by Federica Sciarelli directed by Patricia Belli .
In the air since 1989 , after Blob is the longest running broadcast aired on Rai 3 . The acronym Missing (in English disappeared, disappearance) was composed specifically for the program by Bruno Carioti and Lamberto Macchi. The original music is made by the artist Walter Cesarini."
http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/index.html
From Wikipedia
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_l'ha_visto?
"Chi l'ha visto? Is a television program dedicated to finding missing persons and unsolved mysteries, aired on Wednesday evening prime time on Rai 3 and conducted by Federica Sciarelli directed by Patricia Belli .
In the air since 1989 , after Blob is the longest running broadcast aired on Rai 3 . The acronym Missing (in English disappeared, disappearance) was composed specifically for the program by Bruno Carioti and Lamberto Macchi. The original music is made by the artist Walter Cesarini."