Maria Forese and Michael Sinisi Family

I have written about the Forese Family before. Specifically covering the story of little Maria 2 (7 years old) who died tragically in a fire in 1919, the passing of Maria’s 2 younger sister Angelina in 1917 and the passing of their mother, Rosa (DeSantis) in 1920, as well as touching briefly on the remaining family.

This week I received an email from Dr. John Sherry. Researching his family, he discovered the blog and contacted me. I am always so thankful to hear from family and so grateful for their willingness to add to our shared family story. John and I connect through the marriage of his grandmother Maria 1(Mary) Forese and my grandfather’s sister Julia Civitano. Julia married Nicholas Forese, Mary’s brother. With Johns help and information it is time for me to revisit his family.

Michele Forese b. 21 Sept. 1873 and Rosa De Santis, b. 1 July 1876 both from Grumo Appula, Bari, Italy married on January 9, 1897, in Grumo.

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They had four children born in Italy. First was daughter Maria 1 b.1898, followed by Nicola b.1900 who did not survive past infancy and died in 1900. On the 12 July 1902 son Nicholas 1 (Nicola) was born followed by another Nicholas 2 (Nicola) in 1908. (for the sake of repeating names I have added 1, 2 and 3 to make it less confusing – hopefully)

Father Michele Forese left for New York arriving on April 2nd aboard the S.S. Weimar. He was traveling to his cousin Giovanni Forese living at 240 E. 79th St. N.Y.C.. Rosa, under her maiden name, De Santis, along with her three children Maria 1 (11) under Nicola 1(Nicholas)(8) Nicola 2 (Nicolas) (2) left behind father-in-law Nicola Forese, traveling aboard the S.S. Florida to join her husband. They arrived at Ellis Island, New York on May 9, 1911.

Rosa and Michele added two more daughters to their family once she arrived. Maria 2 was born on Aug 23, 1912 followed by Angelina in 1916. (the daughters who passed away very young)

Their oldest daughter Maria 1, married Michele (Michael) Sinisi. Michael was the son of Nicola Sinisi (abt.1855) and Rosa Rella (abt.1861) both of Grumo Appula, Italy.

Maria 1 (Forese) and Michael Sinisi had 9 children.

Nicholas (Nick) b. 1918, Rose Louise b. 1919, Rose (Dolly) 1924, twins Sam and Michael b. 1925, Elizabeth (Bibit) b. 1926, Joseph b. 1928, Maria 3 b. 1931 and Anthony b. 1938

Below is the wonderful family photo of Maria and Michael Sinisi with all their children courtesy of Dr. John Sherry.

Michael Sinisi Family 1938/39

Back row Lt to Rt: Rose Laura, Rose Louise, Nicholas, Mom Maria holding Anthony, father Michael Front Lt to Rt: Maria 3, ,Joseph, Elizabeth, and twins Sam and Michael

This is such a precious photo. Maria 3 (Mary) in the front row on the end is John’s mother. I love the boys in the front…so much personality.

Michael Sinisi passed away on October 14, 1951, his wife Maria 1 lived another 17 years before passing away on January 10, 1978, New Jersey. They are together at rest at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, East Orange, New Jersey

Of their nine children, three are still living together. twin Michael Jr., Elizabeth (Bibit) and Anthony. God Bless them!

Nicholas 3 (Nick) was born September 29, 1917 New York. Nicholas 3 served our country in the Army. He enlisted on June 4, 1941, Trenton, N.J.. He was married to Carmella (Mildred) Santucci in April of 1952. Nicholas passed away on February 17, 1995 in Florida. He was buried at Southern Memorial Park in N. Miami, Florida.

WWII Draft registration (ancestry.com)

Rose Louise born October 10, 1919 New Jersey. She passed away at 93 years old on Jan. 20, 2013, Brick, N.J. She had married Salvatore Strafaci.

Rose Laura (aka Dolly) was born in 1924. She went on to marry Nicholas Spano. I was able to locate their wedding announcement using newspaper.com. appearing in The Courier News 16 Jan. 1947 . page 14

If the name Spano rings a bell, it should as Spano is a familiar name in our tree. I tried briefly to see if I could locate a cousin connection for this marriage. I found another researcher with unproven information which showed parents for this Nicholas (aka Rocco/Rocky) who were from Bari, Puglia, Italy.

Next born were twins Samuel and Michael Sinisi. I was able to locate their WWI draft registration, which gave me their birthdate.

WWII Draft Registration (ancestry.com)

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Samuel married Florence DeStefano. Samuel passed away on Jan. 19, 2012, New Jersey. He is entombed at St Joseph Cemetery in Toms River, New Jersey.

*after posting I heard from John that Samuel and twin brother Michael had married sisters but he was not sure of her name. I was able to confirm this fact, Michael married Geraldine DeStefano, Florences sister. Their parents were Salvatore and Rose DeStefano.

Elizabeth was affectionately known as Bibit. John shared this photo of Bibit holding him on his Christening day. Also in the photo, his father John Sherry and Godfather George Vainer.

John Sherry, Elizabeth, George Vanner

Joseph Sinisi was born on 25 May, 1927 in East Orange New Jersey. Joseph served his country in the Army during WWII. From ancestry.com his draft registration.

Joseph passed on 24 Mar 2004 in Brielle, New Jersey. He is also entombed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River, New Jersey.

Mary Rose Sinisi was John’s mother. She was born on May 9, 1930 East Orange, New Jersey. Mary was the niece of the husband of my grandaunt. John connects to me as the grandnephew of the husband of my grandaunt. I am so thankful for Ancestry easy quick explanations of connection. Mary is the sweet little girl on the left, front row in the family photo above. She married John Sherry in 1957. Mary Rose passed away on March 27, 2007, Dover, New Jersey.

John shared with me that his love for his family history was a shared love with his cousin Lynore Sinisi, daughter of Anthony and Marian Sinisi. Sadly, Lynore passed away on May 24, 2020 due to COVID. John wrote “I have been keeping this going, something we shared together.” Because of Lynore’s passion for her family history not only have John and I connected but I was able to put him touch with a direct line Forese cousin – Ann, his 1c1xr. Thank you Lynore for your love of preserving our family story.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Lynore M. Sinisi

Coney Island Beauties – 1943

In my last posting I shared my recent cousin connection with Joseph Eckhardt and some of his wonderful family photos. That posting opened up a dialog and communication between us which later included another cousin, Guy Caso, which led to their connection. Guy has graciously shared some of his family favorites before. He is at it again and a big thank you for these two additional photo’s.

Coney Island, July 18th 1943

Left to Right: Rita Caso, Elizabeth Panacciulli, Antoinette D’Attoma Bellini , Antoinette D’Attoma Piacenza, Lena LNU

Rita Caso was born in 1922 and was the daughter of Michael Caso and Rosa DiGirolamo. Rita married Anthony Fraticelli on 18 Dec., 1943. Our shared common ancestor was Domenico Marvulli and Rosa DiArmiento, my 2x great grandparents.

Elizabeth Panacciulli was born in 1927 and was the daughter of Antonio Panacciulli and Antonia Albanese. Elizabeth married Gaetano (Guy) Caso, brother of Rita, on 23 Aug., 1947.

Antoinette D’Attoma was born in 1928. She was the daughter of Angelo D’Attoma and Vera (Vita) Marvulli. Antoinette married Andrew Bellini on 31 Mar., 1948. The 2nd Antoinette D’Attoma was born in 1927. She was the daughter of John D’Attoma and Rosa Marvulli. Antoinette married Sabino Piacenza. Vera and Rosa Marvulli, sisters, married brothers John and Angelo D’Attoma. My shared ancestors with the Antoinettes is also Domenico Marvulli and Rosa DiArmineto.

Lena (last name unknown) is not related but a friend.

Coney Island July 18, 1943

Back left to right: Lena, Rita Caso, front: Antoinette D’Attoma Piacenza, Antoinette D’Attoma Bellini, Elizabeth Panacciulli

Caso ~ Locorriere New Cousin Connection and Photos

This past week I had the welcomed surprise of an email from a distant cousin who had found the blog and contacted me. He shared briefly that he was the great grandson of Rita Edith Marvulli and her husband Gaetano Caso and would love to share some photo’s with me. The cousin who contacted me was Joseph and he is my 3rd cousin. He is the son of Gloria Caso, daughter of Domenica Margharita Caso. Domenica was the daughter of Rita Marvulli, who was the sister of my great grandmother Nicoletta Marvulli. A sincere thank you to Joseph Eckhardt for reaching out and graciously sharing some of his family photo’s. The first one I wanted to share was this lovely wedding photo of Domenica to Vincenzo Locorriere.

Domenica Margharita (Margaret) Caso & Vincenzo Locorriere December 1922, N.Y.

Curtesy of the Joseph Eckhardt Family

Domenica Margharita known as Margaret was born 11 April, 1903 in Grumo Appula, Bari, Italy. She was the daughter of Rita Edith Marvulli and Gaetano Caso. Joseph and I share our 2x great grandparents Domenico Marvulli and Rosa DiArmiento parents of Rita Edith. Vincenzo Locorriere was born on June 1, 1890, also in Grumo Appula and was the son of Leonardo Locorriere and Laura Antonelli, both of Grumo Appula.

Birth Certificate Domenica (Margaret) Caso – Via San Lorenzo 81 – 6pm

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Birth Certificate Vincenzo Locorriere – Piscina la Terra 3 – 12pm

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Margaret, under the name of Domenica arrived on Sept. 11, 1905 aboard the S.S. Manuel Calvo. She was traveling with her mother Rita and older brother Domenico (b. 1900). They were traveling to their father Gaetano Caso at 112 Stone Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.. I was unable to locate a passenger record for Vincenzo. The 1930 census listed his immigration year as 1908 and showed alien status. I was also unable to locate a 1910 or 1920 census. Jumping ahead to the 1940 census it showed under citizenship he had naturalized. Using that information I was still unable to locate any record for this with ancestry but checking familysearch.com I was able to find his Petition For Naturalize. In order, the earliest record I found was for him was the 1917 WWI Draft Registration (ancestry.com) and then the Petition For Naturlization.

His Petition For Naturalization 1919 while in the service, Fort Dix, New Jersey (familysearch.com)

If you noticed on his WWI draft registration his occupation was listed as Ice Business. Joseph also shared this photo of his grandfather Vincenzo in front of his Ice Delivery Truck

Photo curtesy of Joseph Eckhardt Family

Locorriere and Civitano Ice & Coal Delivery Trucks ~ A true family affair

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Two years after marring, Margaret and Vincent welcomed daughter Laura (1924) Rita (1926) and Mary (1927) followed by their first son Leonard (1929). They were renting at 38 Wales Ave.. Jersey City, N.J.. I noticed that under occupation it said disabled – veteran and not working. He had been employed in the ice delivery business prior to serving in WWI. I was unable to locate any record pertaining to his injury using ancestry and fold3. Below from google, a photo of the home in 1930.

Between 1930 and 1940, three more children were added to the family of Vincent and Margaret. Gaetano (1930), Helen (1933) and Gloria (1940). As reported on the 1940 census by 1935 the family had moved to 151 Grand Ave., North Bergan, New Jersey. Vincent now listed his employment as ice and coal delivery. He reported work for 52 weeks.

Sitting in back yard of the summer bungalow that his (Joseph) grandfather Vincent built in Brick, New Jersey is his great grandparents Rita (Marvulli) and Gaetano Caso and grandparents Vincent and Margaret.

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  Rita and Gaetano Caso

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  Margaret (Caso) and Vincent Locorriere

Photo’s curtesy of Joseph Eckhardt Family

Another wonderful photo, this one of Margaret and Vincent with all 7 of their children. They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary ~ 1972

Sadly, Vincent passed away a year later on July 31, 1973. Margaret lived until August of 1982. The are both laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, New Jersey.