I visited the orphanage April 2014. It is now a nursing home for the elderly nuns of the order. The nun in charge was very gracious, but no English is spoken there. The bedroom of Father Cusumano is kept as a shrine with his clothes behind glass. They are scrimping by and are not open to the public ...

Hi -

My website url has changed. Updates to original links with info on Vegliano / Vigliano family

Stories: http://www.karenfavazzaspencer.com/Karen_Favazza_Spencer/Favazza_History.html
Chart: http://www.karenfavazzaspencer.com/Karen_Favazza_Spencer/Family_Tree_files ...

Hi Arlene,

I have dozens of Joseph/Giuseppe Favazza in my file, all from Terrasini. I'm sure I can help you. But we need a little more information.

Go to Ellis Island http://www.ellisisland.org/ and find the original record of his 1903 arrival. Get the names of who he was traveling with, who he ...

Grazie, Vincenzo!

We do not have a date, as yet. It is still mostly a dream.... but one that I hope to make real over the next 12-16 months

Thank you!

That sounds like it must be it, and if it isn't... they'll know for sure~

You're the BEST!

Does anyone know the address and current circumstances of the San Marco Poorhouse, founded in Palermo in 1873 by Blessed Father Giacomo Cusmano? Blessed Father Cusmano also founded the Boccone del Povero, the Sister & Brother Servants of the Poor.

I'm hoping to make a visit to Sicily in the next ...

Hi Frank - Was it really Palermo, or was it Terrasini or Cinisi? I know I grew up saying my grandparents were from Palermo & Milan, simply because those were the nearest big cities people know. There were Pica from Terrasini in St. Louis... but there could easily be Pica from Palermo and other ...

Thanks, Biff! You warm my heart. When you're doing this work and publishing it, you really don't know the reach of it..... but my goal was to spread it out, so it wouldn't be lost.

Best~

Many of our Italian ancestors were part of the Bread & Roses Strike of 1912. Protesting the terrible conditions and low pay in the Lawrence MA textile mills, these recent immigrants from Italy, Poland, Greece and other European countries took to the street in an exceptional movement. I know my g-g ...

Just sent you a private reply.... however, looking at your signature, I may have misinterpreted. I happen to know Italians with the last name Cecilio.

Best~

Hi -

For what it's worth, I have an earlier generation in my DB:

1742: Husband Vito Giannola was born about 1742.

1762: Rosaria Di Lisi was born about 1762 in Favoratta, Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily, dau. of Vincenzo Di Lisi and Giacoma Cipola.

1776: Rosaria Di Lisi married Vito Giannola on 29 ...

Ooooh. About Boccone del Povero, I know quite a bit. As a matter of fact, my dad's great aunt and your grandfather would have been arriving at San Marco as children about the same time. I wrote a story about it, here: http://web.me.com/seabreezes1/Karen_Spencer/Blog/Entries/2010/12/23_Holiday ...

FWIW: Lawrence MA had a sizable Italian population. There was a lot of back and forth between Boston and the Lawrence factories during that period. Lawrence also has a Florence Street, and an excellent historical genealogical center with immigrant info: http://www.lawrencehistorycenter.org/genealogy

Francesco P Favazza s/o Gaetano Favazza m Caterina Frontieri , DOB 20 Sept 1852.
Married Aloisa Toccco d/o Onofrio Tocco m Margherita Ciaramitaro DOM 28 Jul 1883
Francesco & Aloisa emigrated to St. Louis with a bunch of kids, including:

Gaetano Favazza DOB 21 April 1886 in Terrasini,.
Caterina ...

A generous researcher sent me documentation in both directions :)

In the US, there are two Russo siblings who are buried at Calvary Cemetery in St Louis, MO.
Salvatore Russo, Born: Jan 15, 1864 Died: Feb 25, 1928 - St. Louis, MO, USA
Spouse: Caterina Tocco (DOD 1949)

Angela Russo, Born: Abt 1846 ...