Celebrating Family

Caso, Marvulli, D’Attoma Branches

Photo courtesy of Toni Fraticelli

left to rt seated: Rita Fraticelli (Caso), Vera D’Attoma (Marvulli), Rose D’Attoma (Marvulli), Michael Caso, Rose Caso, on lap Lucy D’Attoma (Vera’s daughter), unknown friend. 2nd row: Angelo D’Attoma (Vera’s husband), Guy Caso, Elizabeth Caso (Panacciulli), Elizabeth’s Uncle, Elizabeth’s brother Frank Panacciulli, woman with glasses another Panacciulli family member. In Middle: man with glasses white hair and woman next to him are Elizabeths parents Antonio and Antonia Panacciulli. Back row: John D’Attoma (Rose’s husband), Giuseppe Marvulli, Antoinette D’Attoma, Joe Panacciulli, Toni, John D’Attoma.

This timely photo was shard with me by my 3rd cousin who I have recently connected with through this blog. Timely, because, Toni shared it was taken in the spring, possibly on Palm Sunday. Looking at the photo closely you can see a plant in the center of the crowd and the table is filled with an array of baked goods, dessert, traditional for Palm Sunday and Easter. The picture was taken by Anthony Fraticelli, Toni’s father who was an amateur photographer. The family was gathered at the home of her grandparents Michael Caso and Rosa DiGirolamo, who I have been featuring these last few postings. Their home was located at 37-21 28th St, Astoria, Queens, N.Y., a frequent gathering place for their growing branch as the basement featured a full kitchen with seating for all.

Gathering together to celebrate life and family was not only a tradition but a must for all our extended families. My branch gathered together also, to raise their glasses to say ‘all vostra salute’

 

I am imagining all our branches gathering together and this is by far not all of us

But as we gather this Easter 2020, or I should say as we stay sheltered in place during this Easter Sunday, so many of us alone, not by choice but necessity of this pandemic, as the years have gone by and family gatherings like these have become less and less common, remembering and celebrating our ancestors has taken on a broader and more important meaning to me. Whether we have separated by time, place, or ideas that don’t line up, we are those who came before us with their hopes and dreams becoming our hopes and dreams, we are not alone. 

 

Below is one of my favorite photos of my family taken at our last gatherings when all of my children were together, with their children, add four more grands born since, and then add 6 more to that photo, 1 on the way, the grands with their own children, spanning the country from Oklahoma, Alaska, California, Oregon, Texas, Illinois and Okinawa, Japan.

            Yucca Valley, CA, 1996 

From my home to yours, from my family to your family

A very special thank you to Toni for reminding me of just how precious our family is  

Memories That Bind Us Together

Over the years I have made some wonderful connections with ‘cousins’ through blogging our families past. One of those connections is with Rose Naef nee Nappi and through this blog and email exchanges, it has been absolutely wonderful to share and grow our friendship.

Our shared common ancestor was Francesco Civitano and Giuditta Maria Sportelli (both of Grumo Appula) my 2x great grandparents. Francesco and Giuditta had sons Louis (Vito Luigi) and Vincenzo – our immigrating ancestors who started it all here 🙂 Rose falls off of Louis branch and I follow Vincenzo’s.

Louis married Angelina Marvulli – they had Rose Civitano who married  Domenico Simone – they had Maria (Mary) Simone who married Carmine Nappi – they had Rose

Vincenzo married Nicoletta Marvulli – they had Francesco Civitano who married Catherine Langellotti – they had Vincenzo Civitano who had me with Marlene Haimowitz (they were not married)

Over the last fews years Rose has shared many wonderful little snippets from her memory of the family and has given me permission to share them. Most recently she wrote

Dear Sharon,    

I am sitting reading the blogs over and over and over, trying to recall certain memories, some falling into place, and others not making sense to me.

I do remember visiting with my mom to see my great grandmother which everyone called “BaBorn”, she lived in a very small cottage with a black firestone oven,——she was always dressed in black, her gray hair tied in a bun.   I was very frightened of her, she knew this, therefore would always send me home with a small trinket of hers and lots of kisses.

I also remember the great picnics the entire Civitano, and Forese family would go on.  I particularly remember my mother’s cousin, Lena who had a daughter named Colette, she was older than I, but we always hung out together at the picnics.  I also remember one cousin who died in the garage of his home from the fumes of his car, he had a son named Mickey who also hung out with us as children, eventually moved to California —- before you know it, everyone died, everyone lost contact with each other, contacts that were such great memories for me as a child.

I also remember the Centrone family, you see, we all visited each other quite often, as a matter of fact one of the Centrone girls married a florist who did my wedding flowers for me.

Rose Nappi and Daniel Naef

Thank you to Rose for sharing and allowing me to post her gorgeous wedding photo.

In an attempt to identify some of the family members that Rose remembers, looking back in our tree, the cousin of her mother Mary may have been Lena (Angelina) Simone, daughter of Vito Simone and Julia (Giuditta) Civitano. Lena married Nicholas (Nicola) Forese on 18 Jan, 1931 at St Dominics Church, Bronx. Their witnesses were Giuseppe and Mary Primavera. 

Lena and Nicholas had 3 children, Rose b. 1932, Mickey (Michael Frank) b. 1936 and Judith Mary b. 1942 (all have passed)  – this is the Mickey Rose is referring too. I did not find a daughter named Colette (that was most likely Nicoletta)

Vito Simone and Julia (Giuditta) Civitano had another daughter named Mary (Maria) Simone and this Mary married Joseph (Giuseppe) Simone on 3 Oct 1926, Bronx. Living on Rosedale Ave, Bronx in 1940 I found 4 children list Vito b. 1927, Charles b. 1932, Angelina b. 1934 and Frances b. 1937. Again I did not find a Colette. I am curious if perhaps this daughter Angelina may have had a daughter Colette that Rose is remembering.

But the question remains, who is the Colette that Rose remembers and who is the man that a Centrone daughter married who was a florist.

On the 1940c for Mary Simone married to Joseph Centrone there was the daughter Angelina b. 1934 and Frances b. 1937 – Frances however was recorded as a male and not a female – I can not determine if this was an error. Rose mentioned her memory of the ‘Centrone girls’ so I am suspecting that this could have been a census error.

As for Colette – my aunt was Nicoletta known as Coletta or Colette and she was born in 1930.

but I suspect that the Nicoletta (b.1938)  was the daughter born to Nicholas Forese b. 1909 and Julia (Giuditta) b. 1909.

(You may be thinking is this the Nicholas I read about above and the answer is no. There were two Nicholas Forese in our family tree. One falling off Rose’s branch and one falling off of my branch) 

I always appreciate hearing from Rose as well as all the other cousins I have discovered over the years. If anyone remembers who the florist may be please leave a comment and let us know. If anyone knows of anyone Rose is remembering we would love to hear from you.

These are the memories that bind and remind us we are a family and that will never change. We may lose touch but that memory, those memories, teether us together.

Remembering Maria Forese and asking Why?

Maria Forese #2 was born on August 23rd, 1919 in the Bronx, New York. She was the daughter of Michele (Michael) Forese and Rose DiSantis both from Grumo Appula, Italy.

Maria Forese 2

On May 9th, 1911 Rose, traveling under her maiden name of DiSanits left Grumo Appula and arrived in New York joining her husband Michael who had come ahead of her. Traveling with her was daughter Maria 1 b. 1898, son Nicholas 1 (Nicola) b. 1902 and son Nicholas 2 (Nicola) b. 1909. I am labeling them with a #1 and #2 to make it easier. There had been another son b. 1900 also named Nicholas (Nicola) but he passed away in the same year, 1900, in Italy.

Maria 2 was born on the 23rd of May 1912 in the Bronx, New York. When she was 4 years old she and her siblings welcomed a baby sister name Angelina (Angela) born on June 8, 1916, Bronx. Their happiness was short-lived when baby Angela passed away on the 22nd of June, 1917 of bronchial pneumonia.

In my last post, I wrote about Julia Forese nee Civitano, the sister of my grandfather Frank Civitano who married Nicholas Forese 1. It is her husband that this story attaches too. Nicholas Forese was the husband of my great aunt.

Beautiful little Maria 2 was the sister to the two Nicholas’s and sister Maria 1 born in 1898.

The interweaving of the Civitano, Forese, Simone, D’Armiento families of Grumo Appula is a tapestry of families all intermarried and connected. It is almost impossible to unravel and make sense of, but I will try. While Nicholas 1 married a Civitano member so also had Nicholas 2.

Nicholas 2 married a woman named Angelina Simone and if that name sounds familiar to followers of this blog and our family, this Angelina is the daughter of Vito Simone and Giuditta Civitano, the God-parents of Julia Forese nee Civitano the wife of Nicholas Forese 1 that I am writing about.

Tragically, little Maria died on May 31, 1919, when she was only 6 years old, 9 months and 8 days. It was her cause of death that made her passing even more horrifying. According to the death certificate, the cause of death was shock: 2nd-degree burns of back and (?) ‘the contributing causes were’: clothes set fire by match – homicide. Had she been playing with matches? The word homicide indicates a deliberate act, murder, killing of another by another and the word was used. But who? I could find no record of this using newspaper.com

Death Certificate of Maria Forese

The question is now, who, how, why had this happened. I don’t have an answer and most likely we will never know.

Tragedy strikes again

Eight months later on January 1, 1920, Rose Forese, mother of Maria and Angelina deceased, died from ‘hydatid cysts of lungs, liver and other scleroderma visceral’. Hydatid cysts are caused by a tapeworm infection, caused by contaminated animal feces.

Death Certificate of Rose Forese

Rose Forese nee DiSantis left behind her husband Michele/Michael Forese (47) and her two sons Nicholas 1 (18) and Nicholas 2 (12) and Maria 1 (22)

Rose is buried at St. Raymonds Cemetery along with sweet Maria and her infant daughter Angelina  (Section 12, Range 16, Grave 62)

Source: Find A Grave

Sweet Precious Maria 

It Pays To Look Twice: Emily Tanzillo Revisited

I my last post I told the tale of love, murder and heartbreak regarding my great Aunt Emily (Ermina) Langellotti who married Frank Tanzillo on Feb 19th, 1920 at the Bronx Borough Hall.

 

 

Evidently I had sent away for another marriage certificate which I just received. I was pleasantly surprised with this additional certificate. You can see the original certificate number was crossed off and rewritten with the first certificate’s number on it. The date of this new record was 4 months later on June 20th, 1920 at Our Lady of Pity Church in the Bronx.

 

The question: why? The first was a legal state marriage and the second a wedding sanctioned in the eyes of the church. Was this done because of parental pressure or did it hold a true religious meaning for the couple? I don’t think the questions can ever be answered.

A google search for Our Lady of Pity led me to learn that it was demolished. You can read the story at

https://www.welcome2thebronx.com/2018/02/06/our-lady-of-pity-church-being-demolished/

As I was reading the article on the demolition I came across this mention

“In 1929, the current church was built to serve the fast-growing community of Ponzese living in the neighborhood. For decades, Our Lady of Pity Church and School served the Italian community even as the fires roared through the South Bronx. Even after the parish was merged with nearby Immaculate Conception in 2007, the faithful Ponzese congregated each June 20th on the feast day of Ponza’s patron saint, San Silverio.”

Emily and Frank were married in the church on the June 20th, 1920 on the feast day of Ponza’s patron saint, San Silverio.

For me all of this just adds to the sadness of Emily’s story. I know we must tear down to make way for the new but do we have too? Something stirs deeply in my soul for the loss of the past, whether with her stories, or the physical reminders of what once was. I hate to see these old houses of worship church/synagogue torn down instead of designated as landmarks and refurbished. Their beauty, the craftsmanship of these old buildings of worship can never be replaced. The stained glass, the mosaic tile work irreplaceable.

 

 

One one last note before closing, I wanted to also make mention of the witnesses on this June 20th wedding. Giovanni Dunnola and Lena Piacente. A conversation with my Uncle Joe and a quick look at the 1930c Bronx census answered a question and clarified  fading memories.

Lena Piacente was the sister of Edward Piancente. Edward, an undertaker, our families undertaker was also a very close and personal friend to the family. He was my grandfather’s best man at his wedding in 1929. Lena would go on to marry Michael Puglia in 1924. Connecting our family even more strongly is the fact that my Aunt Coletta later in her life time reconnected with her first love Joseph Puglia- Michael’s (an undertaker) brother. Joseph and Coletta would go on to live out their later years in each others arms and not even in death would they part.

 

Coletta and Joe

 

Love, Murder and Heartbreak

This post will tell the story of Erminia Maria (Emily) Tanzillo nee Langellotti, my great aunt, sister to my grandmother Katherine Civitano nee Langellotti.

In my last few post I had concentrated on my great grandmother, Filomena Langellotti nee DeLellis and her husband, my great grandfather Joseph (Giuseppe Luigi) Langellotti  both from San Gregorio, Caserta, Italy. I had outlined and given a brief history of each of their seven children, Emily, Vincent James, Margaret, Anthony, my grandmother Katherine, Rita Lucy and Arthur Frank. With much love for the memory of Emily I would like to spend some time and share the story of this great aunt and oldest daughter of Filomena and Joseph; Emily (Erminia Maria) Langellotti. Her life tells a tale of love, betrayal, murder, heart break as well as an error in time that has been often glamorized but is far from that. The scars left behind are real effecting the generations to come.

Emily was born on March 4, 1901 at 10:00am in San Gregorio, Italy. The street and house number is listed as 58 Via Matese. Google earth does not enter that road but I have asked my cousin Anne to try and get a photo for me on her up coming visit to Italy if she is able to get to San Gregorio.

Birth Certificate of Erminia Maria Langellotti 

Emily’s brother, Vincent James was born next on May 12, 1903. By 1904 their father Joseph had left for America arriving in June. He set off on the task of working and securing a place for his family that would arrive 2 years later in 1906.

 

By 1917 five more children were added to the family, all born in New York. Emily was 15 when the last sibling, Arthur Frank was born.  The 1915 New York census indicated that Emily was in school. On the January 1920 census she was working as a shirt operator in a factory.

On February 20, 1920 at the Bronx Borough Hall Emily Langellotti (19) wed Frank Tanzillo (24). Frank (Francesco) was the son of Bernardo Tanzillo and Angelina Coccera.

 

Three children followed with the oldest, Angelina Lucy (1921), Filomena known as Phyllis (1926) and Bernard (1930).  In 1930 Frank Tanzillo was working as a brick layer, the same profession as his father. Their address was 1141 Croes Ave. Bronx, where they were living with Emily’s parents, along with sister Margaret who had married John Leone and my grandmother Katherine who had married Frank Civitano.

Emily with Angelina and Filomena, pregnant with Bernard

 

Also living on Croes at 1129 was Frank and Rose Civitano. This Frank Civitano (my 1st cousin 2x removed) was my grandfather Frank’s favorite cousin although more of an Uncle to him. He was also the sponsor of Frank and sister Julia on their return (1923) from Italy as teenagers. Living with Frank and Rose were all of their children along with daughter Lena who was now married to Salvatore Vizzo and daughter Mary married to Anthony Gentile. (I would like to make a special mention of their daughter Julia Bianca nee Civitano, who recently passed away – you are loved and remembered) The importance of this mention of this family branch is that these families were extremely close knit and bonded. They too must have been deeply affected by the impending event.

Tragedy was building and by 1932 the happiness of the family was shattered and forever altered.

Emily apparently had a fondest for gangsters. In all fairness I am not sure that is correct or if it should be she had a fondness for a man who was a gangster. In any event she was caught in the crossfire in the conflict between Mad Dog Coll, Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano.

When I had first heard about this story of Emily, I was compelled to get to the bottom of it. Very few details had remained as the story was a sad one and one that was not talked about or passed down with any detail. A good 10 years past now, I set out to learn what had happened to Emily.  The following is the original newspaper article I located.

Daily News Thursday, February 2, 1932

 

 

 

A Bronx stronghold of Vincent Coll was turned into a shambles last night. Standing in the doorway of an apartment at 1216 Commonwealth Ave., four torpedo men ruthlessly shot down two woman and four men whom they found lingering over dinner. Three were killed outright – one woman and two men. All others were wounded one of the men probably fatally. It was apparently Dutch Schultz’s response to Coll’s recent “call to arms” a summons which resulted in the arrest of Coll, his bride and two of his ace trigger men on Jan 11th. For the apartment where the shooting occurred is a known rendezvous of Coll and his lieutenants, at least one of which died in last nights massacre. He was Pasquale Del Greco, 32, alias Patsy Dugan. The other dead was Emily Tarrizello, 32, of 1141 Ave., Bronx. (let me stop here and say that the family purposefully gave the incorrect last name at the time. Also note that the street name of Croes was left off the address too) Fiore Basile, 33, a known killer and burglar and brother of Michael Basile, one of Colls most trusted mobsters. Basile and Miss Tarrizello were said to have been sweethearts. The wounded are: Mrs Lena Vineiguerra who’s only address police reported as 15th St. shot in the arm. Joseph Parrone, 19, who lives in the rear of the apartment where the shooting occurred, who was shot in the arm. Luis Basile, brother of brother of Fiore who was shot in the heart and the right arm. Little hope was held for his recovery at Fordham hospital where he and Mrs Vineiguerra were held last night.  (Children in next room) Parrone who who was taken to Bathgate Station after he had been treated at Fordham told police that his father, who is deaf, was asleep in an adjoining room when the fusillade was fired. In the same room were Parrone’s two younger brothers age 6 and 3. Neither they nor his father were hurt. although slugs from the murderer’s .45 caliber ? pockmarked the walls and splintered furniture in both the dining room and living room. The article goes on to say that the apartment belonged to Mrs Margaret Zaccardi, the sister of the Basile brothers. The article also goes on to say that One of the children in the apartment, unschooled in the ways of gangland, ran to the corner of Westchester Ave. informed a policeman that “men were shooting upstairs” That was the official knowledge of the affair although occupants of near by houses and heard the fusillade and screams. None could be found however who would say they saw the killers.

• an addition to this original posting, more articles have been downloaded to newspaper.com that have the name of Emily recorded correctly (Tanzillo)

Coll was expected to be present at the apartment and the main target of this hit. Unfortunately he had not arrived yet. From what I have read, the hit man had not actually known what Coll looked like and was unaware he was not among those gathered when he began firing. Coll was successfully killed a few days later on Feb 8th, 1932 (which is my birth day)

This was the original accounting of the event that took place. From the article, to me, it is unclear which of the Basile brothers Emily might have been seeing, was it Fiorie or Michael? What I do know is that the family knew about Emily and what she was doing and was upset over her ‘going out’. She would say she was going to play cards. I can not even begin to imagine the turmoil and heart ache that was felt in the home prior to and after this event that would alter their lives forever.

Death Certificate of Emily Tanzillo

notice spelling of first name which I have seen before 

Frank Tanzillo and his children would remain with Emily’s parents, Filomena (63) and Joseph (64) into the 1940’s with a move to the home at 1114 Metcalfe Ave., Bronx on the 1940 census. My grandparents Frank (33) and Katherine (27) also had moved with them. My father Vincent (5) Coletta (9) were now born. On this 1940 census Frank Tanzillo (44) widowed, listed as son-in-law had no work listed. He had worked 10 weeks in 1939 with an income of $500, granddaughter Angelina (18) was working as a operator telephone company, and their was Phyllis (16) and Bernard (10). In addition, Frank Tanzillo’s brother Louis and wife Anna was also living in the house next door with their children Angela and Bernard.

Frank Tanzillo would go on to live another twenty four years with out Emily. This was a difficult post for me to write about. There is of course more to this story that needs not be shared or remembered. The important thing is to remember that she was a daughter, a sister, a wife and mother. She was loved and missed and remembered. It was important to me that this story not be lost as it is part of who we were and are.

Rest in Peace Emily and Frank Tanzillo 

 

 

A simple google search for Mad Dog Coll will yield quite a few articles on him and the event that took place.

Rosa Civitano Marries Domenico Simone

My last post was in memory of my Aunt Coletta on the 7 year anniversary of her passing. I am always excited about posting because I never know what door, what lead on an ancestor might be shared or found, who might comment, what friendship might be made, what new cousin might emerge and that is exactly what happened.

Through my cousin Peter Marino, I was connected to a 3rd cousin for the first time. Her name is Rose Nappi Naef and Rose helped with identifying a picture that had her grandmother Angelina Marvulli- Civitano in the photo. We were so lucky to have this confirmation along with Peter’s grandmother Julia (also her grandmother). Rose is the daughter of Mary Simone and Carmine Nappi. It’s been a real treat for me to begin sharing and getting to know her. Prior to the new year, I had been spending some time researching and writing about the children of Vito Luigi Civitano, brother to my great grandfather Vincenzo (who was murdered in 1909). This family line has so many branches of which Rose descends. So with this new year in full swing I would like to pick up with the family of ~

Vito Luigi (Louis) (1860 – 1945) and Angelina (1859 – 1958). Louis and Angelina were the parents of 7 children: Francesco (1884) Domenico (1885) Giuditta (1888) Rosa (1890-1892) Rosa (1893) Vincenzo (1897) Giuseppe (1899) All but one child would live to adulthood and along with the whole family, would eventually immigrate to the United States. Today I would like to concentrate on their daughter Rosa, grandmother of Rose Nappi Naef.

Rosa Civitano, was born on the 27th of August, 1893, Largo San Lorenzo 1, Grumo Appula, Italy.

Via Largo San Lorenzo 1, Grumo Appula, where Rosa was born according to her birth certificate. I just love google earth. It truly can take you just about anywhere you want to go. I believe the corner building is where Rosa Civitano – Simone was born. Also a very big thank you goes out to Peter Marino who meticulously has waded through many records to point out the fine points for us.

 

At the age of 15, December 8, 1908, Rosa boarded the ship The S.S. Luisiana leaving out of Naples and headed for New York to her father Vito Luigi. Traveling along with her was 21 other residents of Grumo so she was certainly not alone. Under ‘relative left behind’ was listed her mother Angelina. Rosa arrived on Dec, 24th, 1908.

 

Source InformationTitleNew York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957AuthorAncestry.com

Two years later in 1910, her mother Angelina, traveling under her maiden name of Marvulli with 2 of Rosa’s siblings arrived in time for Rosa’s marriage to Domenico Simone.

They were married at St Clare – Chiesa di Santa Chaira, New York City

 

St Clare – Chiesa di Santa Chaira, 436 West 36th St, held it’s first Mass in 1903, the church was later dedicated in 1907. Sadly this beauty was destroyed to make way for the Lincoln Tunnel.

Domenico Simone was born Apr 1, 1893, Via Gelso 6, Grumo Appula to Vito Rocco Simone ( 1851 -1911) and Maria Fanelli (1852 – 1914)

Domenico also arrived in 1908, traveling aboard the SS Nord America, leaving behind his father Vito Rocco and mother Maria. He was traveling to his brother Vito Simone, already here, living at 456 W. 29th St, NYC, married to Rosa’s sister Giuditta/Julia.

 

My first hint into the family of Domenico and Rosa Simone was the WWI June, 1917 draft registration record for Domenico. Listed as Domenico Simon they are living at 432 1/2 W. 25th St. He is working as a driver helper for the Knickerbocker Ice Co. located at W. 26th St. between 10th & 11th St.

Source InformationTitleWorld War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918AuthorAncestry.com

I was unable to find the family in the 1915 census but it is safe to assume that the family was close by to this address. In the 1920 census, listed as Dominic Semoni, they were  living at 351 W. 25th St., NYC. Next door were Rosa’s parents Vito Luigi, now Louis (60) and Angelina (60) with their son Giuseppe/Joseph (19)

Domenic (26) was still working in the ice industry, as many of our family members were at the time. Rosie (26) was at home with daughter Mary (1914), son Rocco had joined the family in 1918, and baby Louis was 1/12 (1919).

Source InformationTitle1920 United States Federal CensusAuthorAncestry.com

By 1930 the family had relocated to the Bronx putting down roots. Dominic must have been doing very well; they had bought a home located at 538 Beach Ave. This is the home (middle home) built in 1920, (possibly with a facelift – the 539 address is across the street) The home value was $7,500. It is the area known as Clason Point. (census actually recorded the home price as $2,500 but that is most likely a recording error as all other homes on the street are in the $7000 to $10,000 range)

Source InformationTitle1930 United States Federal CensusAuthorAncestry.com

 

1930 seems to be the turning point for the family. Dominick Simone (39) was working on his own as an ice dealer with his own route. His first papers had been submitted to become a citizen. This census tells us as well that he had not attended school and could neither read or write and the language spoken was Italian. Rosa (34) had not attended school either but she could read and write, language too was Italian but I suspect they both could speak English. Mary (16), Rocco (12), Louis (10), were joined by sister Angelina (7, born 1923) Vito (1/12, born 1930), nothing was listed for school or work for the children. We do know that Rosa had also given birth to a daughter, also named Angelina (1920 – 1921)

Their happiness was shattered in 1933 with the death of Rosa at age 39. Rosa passed away on Feb 7th, 1933.

Rosa was put to rest at St Raymond’s Cemetery, Bronx, New York

Along with her are her children Rosa #1, Louis and Rocco

This families story does not end here. Domenico went on to marry widow Teresa Colavito – Gierdano (unsure of the spelling of this last name. Colavito is a common surname and repeated many times in our family history)

The marriage took place September 1, 1934, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Bronx.

 

By 1940, the family was still living at the 538 Beach Ave, Bronx address. Domenico was no longer in the ice business. His occupation was listed as laborer, W.P.A. projects. The W.P.A. was the Works Projects Administration, the largest of the ‘New Deal’ agency. This was created under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to put the unemployed to work. I was so happy to learn that, possibly unemployed at some point he was working and they had not lost their home.

Teresa preceded Domenico in death passing in 1959 and Dominick in 1963.

May their memories be a blessing