Our Italian Family Year in Review

Here were are near the end of the year. 2018 has been on amazing research journey for me. I have made and corresponded with new cousin connections on both sides of my family, broken through a few brick walls, read fascinating and informational ancestral blogs by amazing genealogy research bloggers, networked, strengthened family ties, connected family, shared and had shared family photo’s I never thought I would have the honor of obtaining….truly this year journey has been wonderful and fascinating.

This January through blogging and picture sharing we were able to confirm and identify the only known picture of Angelina Civitano nee Marvulli, sister to my great grandmother Nicoletta. Through this I met and connected with a 3rd cousin, Rose, which has continued to be an on going blessing for me.

Angelina Civitano nee Marvulli wife of Vito Luigi Civitano

 

Photo is of the sweet 16 (1946) party for Coletta Civitano.  

 

In February as I was working on the children of Vito Luigi and Angelina, while reviewing the marriage certificate of son Vincenzo (James) Civitano to Anna Plavcsan I noticed that the best man was recorded as Vincenzo Simone. Vincenzo Jame’s two sisters, Rose and Julia married two Simone brothers, Domenico and Vito. That left me with the question who was Vincenzo Simone? I have not had a chance to research this but the one thing I have learned is never assume, as in assuming he is a brother.

On the 16th of  March we lost Filomena Tanzillo. She was the daughter of Emily Langellotti and Frank Tanzillo.

Filomena (Phyllis) Muller nee Tanzillo ~ may her memory be a blessing 

 

In April I connected with a 2nd cousin 1 X removed on my DeLellis line which opened an exciting dialog and information and photo share. The most exciting for me the photo of

Francesco Saverio DeLellis born 1828 San Gregorio Mattese, Caserta, Italy  died March 1908 Johnston, Providence, Rhode Island 

Researching Francesco and his wife Caterina Loffreda left me with the question, what happened to their youngest son Umberto? Married to Michelina Mastangelo in New York (1911), had they returned to San Gregorio sometime after 1911 and remained there? That question remains into the new year.

In May I blogged at length about Francesco’s oldest son Vincenzo, who married Maria Iannetti, and his children which led to this wonderful photo I received below in July from Flora – I so love and appreciate getting to know Flora over the last few years. She has been a wealth of information on the DeLellis family she married into.

Vincenzo DeLellis and Maria Carmella Iannetti

While receiving this photo was so welcomed we lost another member of our family and with deep sadness I recorded the passing of

Julia Mary Bianca nee Civitano ~ may her memory be a blessing  

I had the honor and pleasure to meet Julia with my adopting mother (Grace Brown) along with her daughter Phyllis and grandson Peter Marino in Florida. Julia will always hold a place deep within my heart.

 

I debunked the myth that Filomena DeLellis arrived through Argentina by finally locating her passenger record and wrote about the gangland murder of her daughter Emily, sister of my grandmother Catherina Civitano nee DeLellis. In Sept. I continued to receive records for Emily and was surprised by an additional marriage certificate from ‘Our Lady of Pity Church’ Bronx.

In September my cousin Ann left L.A. on a trip to Italy to visit the ancestrial towns of our family, San Gregorio Mattes, Caserta and Grumo Appula, Bari, Italy. I am excited to begin sharing about her adventure in the coming year.

When November rolled around I ordered off of eBay a 1919 map of the Johnston, Rhode Island, home of where many of our DeLellis family settled, with many descendants still there in the area.

November also was a month of sadness which brought the passing of another family member; mother to my cousin Ann and her family ~

Rose Mary Giuliano nee Forese

 February 8, 1931, Bronx, New York – November 21, 2018

May her memory be a blessing 

Rose Mary was born on Feb 8, 1931 to Nicholas Forese and Julia (Giuditta) Civitano. (Julia was sister to my grandfather Frank Civitano). Rose Mary was the oldest of 2 siblings, both who preceded her in death, Michael John and Nicoletta Rose.

In 1955 Rose married Emanuel Giuliano in the Bronx. He was the son of James Vincent Giuliano and Antonette Prezzano. Emanuel preceded her in death on May 14, 2014.

 

Now here we are in December…. and I wanted to end the year with saying thank you for following along, all the comments shared on the blog and privately. Happy Holidays and healthy coming New Year to you all.