Marguerite Manzelli Coffarelli 1898 - 1938

February 13 marked your grandmother Marguerite's 117th birthday so I'd like to say Happy Birthday to her by posting a partial transcription of the story relayed to me by Marilyn Pitelli Sheerin several years ago. The photo is one I think many of you have seen. Marilyn got this from Aunt Marie Manzelli Mangelli and forwarded it to me. Marilyn noted on the back that you see the Manzellis: Anna, Marie, Giovanna, Madeline, Emily and Regina in front. I suspect it was taken perhaps around 1940-1942.

Enjoy. I welcome your comment or thoughts on your memories of such stories. I've put some of my own notes in red.

After their father died, Joseph, Giacomo, Pasquale and Michael decided to leave Pietraroia Italy to come find a better life in America. They left their mother and younger brother and thought they would send for them later.

Giacomo was a bachelor and lived with Joseph even after her married Giovanna. Pasquale was a priest and founded Saint Joseph Church, New Rochelle NY.

When their mother became ill in Italy they sent for her. But, the younger brother Andrew was about to be married and chose to stay in Italy. He died many eyars later, but the woman he married Christina is the woman Ed and I visited in Pietraroia last July. It was a dream come true for me. She still lives across the street from the church where the Manzelli boys were baptized and Pasquale said his first mass.

Marguerite was the name of Joseph, Michael, Pasquale, Giacomo and Andrew’s mother and you can see that Joseph and Andrew named their first born daughters after their mother. And Uncle Johnny followed suit with his daughter Marguerite. It is very interesting how the family names keep popping up ie Peter, Michael, Andrew (by the way Giacomo is Italian for James!)

Anyway, back to the story-when the ill mother came to America Fr. Pasquale took care of her at St. Josephy Rectory in New Rochelle. In the meantim the three brothers decided to build a family mauseleum at Calvary Cemetery where the whole family could be buried. …..When Marguerite died the mauseleum was finished and she was buried there.

One little story I remember my mom (Aunt Anna Pitelli) always telling is when Regina’s Dad James Coffarelli was diagnosed with leukemia, he spent a long time at NY Hospital and was finally going to be released. The family planned a wonderful Welcome Home Party (my mother was 14). About 9 PM her father (Joseph) said good night to the guests and went upstairs to bed. All of a sudden they heard a thum and Joseph Manzelli collagpsed and died of a heart attack. (December 10 1933).

James Coffarelli died eventually of the leukemia (Feb 20 1934—only a couple of months later) and the story I heard was that Marguerite almost died of a broken heart about 2 years later (Jan 3 1938) leaving Johnny and Regina. She never really accepted her husband’s death. My mom also always said Marguerite played the piano, gave lessons and also played the organ in church.”

Nevins Serendipity

I had some incredibly great luck recently in the family history research on the Nevins side of the family!

Many years ago while researching in Olean, I came across a notebook in the public library that contained a number of local biographies.  This was among them and I thought I had hit the jackpot.  At the time, I knew almost nothing about Henry Nevins (our maternal great grandfather).  This piece of hand-typed onion paper with a 3 hole punch out of that notebook provided HUGE clues for me to follow and I was ecstatic.

But then I noticed a few discrepancies--especially with dates-- and I have no idea how this Citizens Historical Association got its information.  In particular, I saw that Henry's father John was noted to have been born in Canada (not Ireland as I thought) and that he had lived in the Lockport area as a grocer for some time before he settled in the Ellicottville area.    I have searched all these years since for some kind of evidence that John was born in Kingston Canada and lived in Lockport NY for a time.

And then, almost accidentally, I found it!  New York State conducted a census halfway between the federal census years several times:  1855, 1865, 1875 for example.  I had John Nevins well documented in census and other records from 1860 forward--all in the Ellicottville area.  Until the other night, up popped the NY 1855 census and there was John in Lockport with his MOTHER Mary, sister Catherine and two children that belonged to a brother.  He appeared to be a "grocerman"

This verified what the Citizens Historical Association published and gave me clear evidence that John had at least one brother.  My grandmother claimed there were a bunch of brothers, but I've never found them either.

This monument is in the Holy Cross cemetery in Ellicottville.  Listed on the other side are twins Matty and Christy Nevins who died of diptheria when they were about 6-- great grandfather Henry is their brother.  I've suspected, hoped, wondered, prayed that this Mary might be John's mother.  Now I know it is and I feel like an open book has been closed.  I will presume John's father Henry was dead by the time John found himself in Lockport around 1852.

Some days you are the teflon and some days you are the velcro.  Sometimes things just go smoothly and sometimes they get sticky.  I was TEFLON this same day because I also found John's future wife in 1855 in the city of Rochester--this was a complete surprise.  Julia Fisher, 19, was documented in Rochester in 1855 with her father John, her mother Ann and her brother Christopher.  The image is very hard to read and I can't tell much from it but they are clearly there --ever so close to the Nevins family!  For some reason each family migrated to Ellicottville and that's where history was made starting in 1866 when John and Julia married.

Work hard enough and long enough and sometimes the pieces fall into place.  Ahhhhh.....

Abatangelo and Messa families having fun

If this picture wasn't in black and white, some of you may think it replicates some of the family fun in recent weeks. But this family event was probably held some 60 years ago or more. You all come by your love of family gatherings honestly! There is a long history of such for you to benefit from.

This picture is meaningful to me in many ways. One is that it reminds us that we aren't the first generation to enjoy a good time and silliness. Aunt Josie Albertini and Aunt Rose Albertini helped identify their Uncle Frank Abatangelo on the ground under the spigot; Esther on his legs; Walter Junior the young boy; their Aunt Bea Abatangelo on the far left, your Aunt Rose in the middle and Great Aunt Rose Jozwicki drinking from the glass. Aunt Rose tells me Esther is around 75 so I feel pretty certain this was taken at least 60 years ago.

The Messa children (Mary, Rose, Louis, Bea, Peter) didn't have a happy home life (an understatement). Most of them suffered from serious health problems in adulthood. But when they got together, good times and silliness ruled! It's a reminder that we can find strength in our family gatherings especially when times are difficult either personally or more globally.

Another reason this picture is meaningful to me was supplied by cousin Diana whose sharp eye noticed that the picture I previously posted of your grandparents was taken in the same location. She noticed the lattice work. When I looked at the both pictures more carefully, I had one of those "dope slap" revelations and realized we had 3 pictures from the same event.

We had originally been puzzling over the identity of the man on the ground. When I put these 3 pictures together it is obvious that it is Uncle Frank. Mystery of the man on the ground solved by keen observation--thanks Diana! Another reminder that family history is a family effort.

Posted by Pat D at 2:58 AM No comments:

Eagle Eyes

A couple of years ago, we had a nice little adventure with my sister Paula searching for eagles on the Cannonsville Reservoir. 

This is telephoto and cropped.  It wasn't as obvious as this but Paula had "an eagle eye" (HAHA).  We took some pictures from afar and then cautiously approached for a better view.  We just barely got settled to gaze at him when he took off in glorious flight!  I was snapping pictures as fast as I could--my camera was not in auto mode for continuous shooting but I didn't dare take the camera away from the eagle to change the setting.  I didn't want to break the spell.  He just glided, soared and generally made his presence known over the river for quite a while.  Jim opened the sunroof so I could pop out and take some shots from that angle.  It was really magnificent and we surely have Paula to thank for her advice and keen eye.

This one was from the sunroof angle as he left our immediate view.  Sail on, big guy!

This adventure brought to mind the Nevins family and their apparent love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing.  There are no end of pictures of them in Canada on these adventures.  It appears that Gammy Nevins did not join them but EVERYONE else seems to be there. 

It seems that Henry (our great grandfather) enjoyed Weenie's company too!

I think this is our Mom Anne Flynn with her mother Paula Flynn Nevins and Henry Nevins in Canada

When I wasn't our hunting eagles with my camera, I was sitting here at the computer continuing my family research.  I was presented with this document I'd never seen.  You know those Ancestry.com commercials where they say they just clicked the shaking leaves and VOILA!  Well, that's exactly what this was.  It was like Ancestry.com had the eagle eye this time.  Henry died in Canada which, of course, must have created a raft of paperwork.  This is one of those.  I found it interesting and thought you might too.

Here's your dad Robert (Bob) Dalpiaz

Recently I've found myself in the vicinity of discussions about Ancestry.com.  I think the media hype about the census release combined with the growing popularity of the TV Show Who Do You Think You Are? and Genealogy Roadshow in addition to heavy Ancestry.com marketing has brought this to the level of lunch table discussions around the country.  Ancestry.com is probably my best friend in the hunt for family history and has been growing in its importance to me in direct proportion to their adding records and information to their databases.  I've been a subscriber for several years and have made many new discoveries via the information provided there.

Having said that, it is a fairly significant expense.  For casual researchers, I would probably not recommend subscribing.  Similar databases are often available via local libraries--sometimes even accessible from home with the library card in hand.  Believe me, finding those connections 3-4-5 generations back like they show on the commercials and TV shows isn't as simple as entering the name and clicking search.  Amazingly wonderful information can be found that way but it depends on what your research priorities are.

Some family researchers are mostly interested in adding names and dates directly up their lines as far back as they can go.  Some are more interested in the stories about the families and their time and place in history.  Some are fascinated with the documentation just for the amazement of its mere existence and availability.  A 14 day free trial to Ancestry would probably get you the names but maybe not the stories or the documentation.  I would never discourage anyone from the free trial (except to be sure to remember to "unsubscribe" at the end) but would caution you to remember it's not as easy as a click here and there working like magic to produce a centuries old document showing you're related to Charlemagne.  Check out your local libraries and see what's available through their services.  Also, check the libraries local to the region you are most interested in.  You may be able to get a card and use their services.  You might be surprised at what's available.

So that's the end of my pitch for libraries.  Allow me to show you the results of some very long and arduous digging into the Coffarelli family.  Perhaps you remember the oldest daughter Margaret, born 1880 in Italy prior to emigration?  She married Marco DiSabto and used the name Innocence rather than Margaret.  Census taker error resulted in her being listed as Hishats Innocenti.  A real bear to locate and track that family!  But hard work sometimes pays off with something blessedly easy.

I haven't done too much sideline 1940 census research yet --I've only concentrated on the direct lines I was most interested in.  But I needed to see if I could find Margaret in 1940 out of curiousity to see how she'd be listed.  And we are blessed with the following reward:

Nice and neatly written by the census taker and pretty easy to locate.  You'd probably get here in that one click search demonstrated on the Ancestry.com commercials!  I feel so much better having found her.

Here's your dad Robert (Bob) Dalpiaz

And your Mom Regina Coffarelli

Here are your Mom and her brother with their grandmother Manzelli.  It's probably a good thing I went page by page because I don't think this will get indexed as MANZELLI.  Interesting they are listed as "lodgers" (I think--this census taker seems a bit sloppy). These finds make the research SO MUCH FUN.

Food Memories

I made dinner again last night--take out pizza as seen above.  Some of you read the Good Morning Gloucester blog and they take much nicer pictures of food than this, but the pizza-for-dinner last night got me thinking.  I don't remember that we ever had pizza for dinner when we were young (or at all for that matter).  Pizza was a treat for me and I have fond memories of some of my favorite food treats.  Costa's pizza in Silver Creek remains top on my list.  That pizza was GREAT.  Once in a while, I'd bring a pizza home after work in Walton --maybe from Aiello's?  Mom and Dad both seemed to enjoy that.

I remember only one time that we had pizza with our grandparents in Olean.  I got the clear idea they didn't like pizza--perhaps that's what they told me.  Anyhow, in my little 10 year old brain, "old people" didn't like pizza so I always thought that was a fact of life.  It's kind of strange to me that we didn't have pizza more often --it's fairly cheap especially made by hand from a mix.

Once in a while we'd have fish fry at Foits.  Out to a restaurant with all of us for fish!  I can't say I remember the fish dinners themselves, but I do remember that going to Foits was a treat.  I still enjoy fish fry as a treat.  It's not something I've tried myself.  I'll leave fish to the experts.

Another treat was the mandarin orange, banana slices with confectioners sugar dessert--chilled.  Ummmmm.  I shared that special recipe with my own kids and they have always loved it.  Thinking about it now, I don't imagine that mandarin oranges were normally on Mom's grocery list. I don't recollect having them for anything other than this dessert.  But she would have had to have the mandarins on hand.  I buy them semi-regularly these days to have on hand for fruit salads but I think it must have been an extra expense on the normal grocery list for Mom.  This makes that dessert even more special in my eyes.  If she used mandarin oranges regularly for something else, don't tell me.  Oh!  I just remembered jello with fruit which we never saw after she'd been hospitalized.  Perhaps that's why she'd buy those mandarins.

Dad's "special" barbequed chicken sauce wasn't so much a treat as an event, as I recall.  It required preparing the marinade ahead and soaking the chicken for at least a day.  That was pretty good chicken too.
Another treat would be when Mom made pancakes for dinner, blueberries upon request.  That was never my favorite meal but it wasn't fun for Mom to churn out all those pancakes and she did it once in a while anyhow.  Mom's spaghetti sauce was a treat for me and I like making that for my family too.

I guess that's what makes some food or meal a "treat"--you just know some kind of special effort went into it and it makes you feel like it was all about making you happy.  A lesson I'm happy to carry forward with my children, even though I suspect that the things I thought I was doing special for them won't be the fond memories they share around the table over beers some evening in the future.  It will be something ordinary and unexpected.  I'm sure Mom was as surprised by the popularity of the mandarin orange dessert as I was with Amy and Ryan.  And so it goes.

The Gondola from PS 83

The Gondola is the name of the souvenir graduation program from PS 83 June 1942. I was looking through it out of curiosity and noticed some things I thought you would find interesting.

This program cover has your mother's name (Regina Coffarelli) in the upper right hand corner, written in her hand.  The graphic is obviously hand drawn.  The signature of the artist indicates she was one of your mother's classmates.  Regina Coffarelli and Bob Dalpiaz were about 14 at the time, so I'm presuming this is an 8th grade graduation program.  The first thing I noticed with interest was that the agenda for the event seemed to have a strong ethnic flavor.    Perhaps there was a South American/Hispanic theme?

What a sweet thought that the President of the Mother's Club presents the medals and awards!  Somehow I find that comforting.  There is an extended list of patrons and patronesses (I'm guessing this program was some kind of fund raising effort).  That list contained several familiar surnames including Dalpiaz, Coffarelli, Manzelli, Sapienza,  Miglietta, Petro, Restivo, Jozwicki--Must have been every single grandparent, aunt, uncle and parent of each graduate considering how many there are on that list!

It appears great effort was made to include everyone in the contents of the program.  I find that very similar to today's efforts.  Also in line with today, I noted there seem to be a small number of "over-achievers" --those whose names you see on every other page in the yearbook.  You remember those people from your own yearbook, right?  Anyhow, when I realized that I might find familiar names, the search was on.

 The program opens with a poem that appears to include all graduates:  As Others See Us.  Lucky for me these were alphabetical. 

Finding Mary Sapienza's (Aunt Mary's) contribution was a big bonus!

Your mother Regina apparently enjoyed the Drama Club writing and portraying Mother Csorba (?!)

and your father the Shop Club (surprise!)

Regina and Mary find themselves commended for school spirit (along with a number of those afore-mentioned over-achievers)

Robert, Regina and Mary were "On the Alert for Defense"--written in a very patriotic tone:

You'll note that someone marked your mother in the picture with a plus sign!

Not surprisingly, the patriotic tone is heavy.  This is only a few months following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Many of the students had obviously been affected by the war. 

You've probably seen this picture of the graduates--this is not too far from the size of our own high school graduating class this year.

Aren't they cute?  Then they enter high school..........