Dear Lili,

There are so many things I want to tell you, and it’s so hard for me to decide where to begin. So I guess I’ll start from the beginning with our ancestors so you can know who you are and where you come from on your father’s side of the family. I’ll start with Poppie’s side of the family and tell you about Nonnie’s side in a separate post.

My father, your grandfather ‘Poppie,’ was of Italian ancestry, of course — Del Vecchio. On your paternal grandfather’s (Poppie’s) side I can trace our family roots back to four towns in Italy — Guardia Sanframondi, San Lupo, and Baselice in Benevento Province for his patrilineal line (i.e., the Del Vecchios):

Province of Benevento – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and San Fele in Potenza Province for his matrilineal line (i.e., the Galellas).

Province of Potenza – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Several sources were used to put this information together, including interviews I had with Poppie, documents I obtained through him, and online genealogical sources I investigated on my own.

I got a lot of help from a man named Edward Del Vecchio in South Carolina. He and I have the same great-great-grandparents (i.e., your great-great-great-grandparents — Felice Alessandro Del Vecchio and Maria Francesca Del Vecchio, nee Papa). That means my great-grandfather Abele Del Vecchio and his great-grandfather were brothers, which makes Edward my third cousin.

After arriving in America from “the old country” all of our ancestors on Poppie’s side settled first in Newark, New Jersey. Newark was well-known in Italy as a place where many Italian immigrants chose to make their new home. Below is a picture of the Newark skyline in the early 1900s just after the Italian immigrants arrived in America. This is the city our ancestors would have known.

Newark, New Jersey – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Following is the genealogy of our family  on your Paternal Grandfather’s (your father’s father’s) side that I was able to construct. I hope you enjoy learning about yourself.

I will never forget the joy I felt being your Dad. May this bring you some joy when you read it.

You are always in my heart.

Love,

Daddy XOXOXOX

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“Seek first to know your own journey’s beginning and end. Seek then the other journeys of which you are a part. But in this seeking, know patience. Wear the traveler’s cloak which shelters you and permits you to endure.”

   –  ‘Master Po’, Kung Fu television series (1971-73)

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Philip Del Vecchio (“Poppie”) (May 22, 1921 – May 3, 2008)

(Your Grandfather)

Philip Del Vecchio was born in Newark, New Jersey on May 22, 1921, the second of three sons of Valentine Del Vecchio and Livia Del Vecchio, nee Galella. Like others of his generation, he grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, his father’s secure job as a federal postal employee saw the family through the tough times.

Philip attended The Newark College of Engineering (N.C.E.) in Newark, now the New Jersey Institute of Technology (N.J.I.T.). He graduated in 1942 with a B.E. Degree in Civil Engineering.

Here’s a picture of Poppie (on the right) when he was in his late-teens or early-twenties with his brother Val and two girlfriends:

When World War II broke out, Philip and his brothers all enlisted for service in the military. Below is a picture of the three brothers, from left to right, Richard (U.S. Navy), Val (U.S. Army), and Philip (U.S. Army Air Corps), in their military uniforms:

Because Philip was studying engineering in university, he was allowed to finish his education and get his degree before presenting himself for service. After finishing university he went through an officers training program and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was then stationed in England where he worked on aircraft design for the army in his capacity as an engineer. By the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Major.

Below is a picture of Philip (kneeling, extreme right) with his fellow soldiers in the U.S. Army Air Corps 8th Air Force (there was no separate Air Force in those days):

And here’s a close-up of Poppie from that picture:

It was while he was in England that he met his future wife, Gertrude Marie Kotz (“Nonnie”), who was stationed there as well in the WACs (Women’s Army Corps). Poppie told me Nonnie reminded him of the famous actress Ingrid Bergman.

The couple often  reminisced about the “War Years” and their romantic times in London. I remember Poppie always talking about enjoying dinners at their favorite Indian Restaurant, Vera Swamies (still there, apparently). He also told a story of how Nonnie used to collect duck eggs for him for breakfast as it was very difficult to get chicken eggs during the war in England. And because the ducks ate algae, the eggs were turned a harmless green color. (They tasted fine, he said.)

After the war ended the couple returned home and got married on August 5, 1945. Here is their wedding photo with the extended family. In the center, from left to right, are Philip’s parents Livia Del Vecchio, nee Galella and husband Valentine Del Vecchio; Philip Del Vecchio and bride Gertrude Del Vecchio, nee Kotz; and Gertrude’s parents Esther Adele Kotz, nee Johnson and husband John William Kotz:

Philip and Gertrude Del Vecchio settled in Springfield, New Jersey. Philip and his wife’s uncle, “Uncle George,” an architect, designed the home the couple and their family would live in from 1957 to 1988, at 11 High Point Drive.

Below is a picture of the Del Vecchio Family taken in 1962. Pictured, in front from left to right, are David, Tony, and Paul. Standing in the rear from left to right are Peter, Valerie, Gertrude, Philip, Denise, and Philip, Jr.:

In addition to his job as a civil engineer with A. Munder and Sons in New York, Poppie was active in Springfield town politics, holding elected positions on the Township Committee and also as Mayor of Springfield. Here’s where Poppie worked as Mayor and Councilman, the Springfield Town Hall:

Inside there is a plaque board with the names of all the town’s past Mayors listed. You can see Poppie’s name on plaques in 1962, 1968, and 1969:

Here’s a picture of Poppie on a campaign item from 1966:

While Poppie was Mayor and Councilman the local government under his leadership initiated a number of engineering projects for the betterment of the community. As an engineer, Poppie designed or was involved in the design of, these projects himself, including The Springfield Pool, where I played as a kid:

He was also responsible for the relocation of the old public library from a colonial-era structure (what is now the Sarah Bailey City Center) to the new structure he designed and had built, The Springfield Public Library:

In addition, he was involved in the planning and design of the system of levees and flood catch basins along the Raritan River. Springfield used to have terrible flooding whenever heavy rains caused the Raritan River to overflow, but after the completion of these projects the flooding problem was solved for good.

In addition to local politics, Poppie was involved in other religious and community organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus (a Roman Catholic Organization), the Rotary Club (a business organization), The Lion’s Club (a charitable organization which raised money for the blind), and the town’s AMICO (American Italian Cultural Organization) Club.

Here’s the cover to AMICO’s “Favorite Italian Recipes” cookbook:

After he retired from life in local politics Poppie continued to work as a civil engineer, but chose to start his own business, Philip Del Vecchio, P.E. (Professional Engineer). He and his first son, my brother Phil, Jr. (also an engineer), worked out of an office and drafting room which he had redesigned from our old basement and laundry room. My sister, Denise, worked for him as secretary and Nonnie also worked with him as bookkeeper.

When Philip retired the couple lived in a home in Boynton Beach, Florida, which you probably remember. Here’s a picture of you and Poppie and Nonnie at Lion Country Safari in March 2003:

We visited Poppie and Nonnie several times in Florida, and I’m glad they got to know their wonderful granddaughter and that you could get to know them a little. You may not remember them too well in your head, but I know you do in your heart, and that’s the important part.

The last time you saw them was in August 2003 when we took our month-long American Adventure vacation together. Here’s the last picture I have of the three of you together at the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida:

After Nonnie passed away in January 2005 Poppie returned to live in New Jersey. He spent the last years of his life in a beautiful retirement community near the pine forests of southern New Jersey. This is the last picture I have of the two of us together, taken in September 2007:

Poppie passed away  just shy of his 87th birthday on May 3, 2008, of natural causes in his home. A funeral service was held for him at the Galante Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey, whereupon he was cremated as per his request.

As a veteran of the U.S. military, he chose to exercise his right to be interred at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. I attended the interment on August 5, 2009. Both Poppie and Nonnie’s ashes were interred together in the same niche in the Columbarium there during the same ceremony and on the same day.

It was a beautiful service with full military honors accorded to both of them, including a “twenty-one gun salute” in which seven riflemen fire three separate volleys (blanks, of course, for safety) into the air. It was very emotional:

I wrote out a card from the two of us:

and bought a wreath of flowers from us with the colors of the American flag that I placed at their niche in the wall:

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Valentine Del Vecchio (April 12, 1892 – March 5, 1960)

and Livia Del Vecchio, nee Galella (Dec. 7, 1895 – Dec. 24, 1988)

(Your Great-grandparents)

Vaelntine Del Vecchio was Poppie’s father, and the son of Abele Del Vecchio and Pasqualina Del Vecchio, nee Colasanti. Livia Del Vecchio, nee Galella was Poppie’s mother and the daughter of Sebastiano Galella and Mariantonia Galella, nee Martino.

Valentine Del Vecchio was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 12, 1892. He had two sisters, Frances and Filomena (“Minnie”), and one half-brother, Henry Linfante (Pasqualina Del Vecchio’s son by a second marriage after Abele’s death).

Valentine was a U.S. postal worker for 40 years. According to Poppie, on his free time helped newly-arrived Italian immigrants settle in the new country.

Below is a picture of him (second from left) taken in 1915 when he would have been around 23 years old:

He married Livia Galella at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey, on October 18, 1914. This is their wedding photo:

Valentine and Livia had three children, Abel Valentine, Philip (your Poppie), and Richard. Below is a picture of the family on an outing at Bear Mountain, New York circa 1930. In the front are Poppie and his brother Abel Valentine (whom I called “Uncle Val”). In the back are Livia, Valentine, and their youngest son and Poppie’s brother, Richard:

And here is a picture of the extended Valentine and Livia Del Vecchio family from 1956. Standing in the back are Valentine and Livia’s sons, from left to right, Richard, Abel Valentine (“Val”), and Philip (Poppie). Seated in the middle, from left to right, are Betty (Richard’s wife), Gertrude (your Nonnie), Valentine (with Richard’s son Ricky on his knee), Livia, and Fran (Val’s wife with daughter Diana on her knee). Seated in front are Paul (Philip’s son, your uncle), Denise (Philip’s daughter, your aunt), Valerie (Philip’s daughter, your aunt), Val (My Uncle Val’s son whom we called “Vally Boy), and Peter (Philip’s son, your uncle).

Valentine Del Vecchio passed away at home on March 5, 1960, at the age of 67. Even though I was so young, I actually have faint memories of him and his home at 44 Marsac Place in Newark, those being among my very first recollections in life.

*

44 Marsac Place, Newark, N.J. circa 1955

Livia “Lena” Galella was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 7, 1895.

Here is a picture of her at Poppie and Nonnie’s wedding on August 5, 1945:

Grandma Del Vecchio, nicknamed “Lena,” was a kind and gentle woman whom I knew for the first 30 years of my life. The whole family used to get together at Grandma’s house where she lived with her sister, my Great-Aunt Florence (“Aunt Flo”) and Florence’s husband, Carl Bagnano (“Uncle Carl”) on Christmas Eve and eat and eat and eat. The two sisters were great authentic Italian cooks, and I miss those feasts more than anything! I also remember when I was in high school a couple of friends and I used to go there for lunch sometimes and she’d make us Italian-style peppers and eggs sandwiches. Grandma spoke the Italain of her parents as well as English. Sadly, Lena passed away on December 24, 1988 (Christmas Eve, the day I always associated with her), at the age of 91.

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Abele Del Vecchio (Oct. 9, 1857 – prior to 1921)

and Pasqualina Del Vecchio, nee Colasanti (circa 1863 – ?)

(Your Great-great-grandparents)

Abele and Pasqualina Del Vecchio were the parents of Valentine Del Vecchio. Abele was Poppie’s father’s father. Pasqualina was Poppie’s father’s mother.

Abele Del Vecchio was born on Oct. 9. 1857 in Guardia Sanframondi, Benevento Province, in the Campania Region of Italy.

Guardia Sanframondi – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He was a stone mason by trade who emigrated to America in the 1880s. Abele Del Vecchio was a middle child, having two brothers: older brother Filippo Pacifico, born May 19, 1855, and younger brother Carlo, born Nov. 4, 1859. Abele passed away before Poppie was born in 1921 so Poppie never met him.

Pasqualina Colasanti was born in the town of Baselice, Benevento Province. 

Baselice – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I don’t know if Pasqualina and Abele married before or after they both emigrated to America, but I think before. She was a schoolteacher whom everybody addressed as “Donna Pasqualina,” out of respect. She was said by Poppie to be a “strong-willed woman.”

Abele and Pasqualina had three children: Valentine, Frances, and Filomena (“Minnie”). After Abele passed away, Pasqualina remarried one Henry Linfante and had a child by the same name, so there is a half-sibling as well.

I only have one scan of Abele and Pasqualina that I got from my cousin Diana, which is of pretty poor quality. You can see Abele’s face pretty well, but Donna Pasqualina’s is obscured. Anyway, here it is below:

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Sebastiano Galella (c. 1855 – Jan. 1944)

and Mariantonia Galella, nee Martino (Jan. 23, 1860 – ?)

(Your Great-great-grandparents)

Sebastiano and Mariantonia Galella were the parents of Livia Del Vecchio, nee Galella. Sebastiano was the son of Guiseppe Galella and Lucia Galella, nee Bengivengo, and was Poppie’s mother’s father. Mariantonia was the daughter of Vito Martino and Livia Martino, nee Lanza, and was Poppie’s mother’s mother.

Sebastiano Gallela was born in the 1850s in San Fele, Potenza Province, in the Basilicata Region of Italy.

San Fele – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Like many Italian immigrants, Sebastiano and his wife Mariantonia were forced to flee the poverty of the Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy).

Southern Italy – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A collapse of the economy of the region saw a mass migration of Italian immigrants in the late 19th Century through the early 20th Century.

The San Felese Society of New Jersey

Sebastiano emigrated to America through Ellis Island, N.Y., the old U.S. immigration facility (now a national park). If you go to Ellis Island you can see his name listed on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Panel # 513. Since Ellis Island operated as an immigration facility from 1892 to 1954, Sebastiano would have been one of the first arrivals through the facility, coming to America sometime between 1892 and 1895. (My great-grandmother Livia Galella was born in Newark in 1895.)

Ellis Island – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sebastiano was said to be a very kind and gentle man whom Poppie loved dearly. Together with his wife, your great-great-grandmother, Maria Antonia, they lived at 46 Ferry Street, Newark, N.J. and operated a family-run grocery store. The couple had seven children: Frances (“Frank”), Vito (“Duke”), Filemena (“Minnie”), Pasquale (“Pat”), Livia (“Lena”), Florence (“Flo”), and Mary [Mary died young and no one of my generation met her].

Mariantonia Martino was also born in San Fele on Jan. 23, 1860. Below is a certified copy (in Italian) of her birth certificate issued in 1920 attesting to the details of her birth, parentage, etc.

Below are some pictures I have of Sebastiano and Maria Antonia. The first is a picture of Sebastiano that I got from my cousin Diana.

The second is a picture circa 1943 of Poppie with his grandfather Sebastiano shortly before Poppie left to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. Sebastiano was around 90 years old in this photograph:

Here’s a close-up of your great-great-grandfather Sebastiano from the above photo:

The third is a picture of Mariantonia (seated on the right) and her daughter Livia (Poppie’s mother and your great-grandmother) tending the family grocery store in Newark circa 1917:

Here’s a kind of fuzzy close-up of your great-great-grandmother Mariantonia from the above picture:

Below is a picture outside their store, The Galella Italian-American Grocery. The two figures standing in front are unknown, but are believed to be two of Livia’s siblings:

Sebastiano passed away in January 1944. I’m unsure when Maria Antonia passed away. Both Sebastiano Galella and Maria Antonia (Martino) Galella are interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, New Jersey.

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Felice Alessandro Del Vecchio (Oct. 31, 1831 – ?)

and Maria Francesca Del Vecchio, nee Papa (Nov. 3, 1830 – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-grandparents)

Felice Del Vecchio was the son of Filippo Del Vecchio and Maria Dialena Del Vecchio, nee Colacchio and the father of Abele Del Vecchio, and was Poppie’s father’s father’s father. The names of Maria Francesca Del Vecchio, nee Papa’s parents are unknown; she was Poppie’s father’s father’s mother.

Felice Alessandro Del Vecchio was born on Oct. 31, 1831 in Guardia Sanframondi, Benevento Province.

Maria Francesca Papa was born on Nov. 3, 1830 in the town of San Lupo, Benevento Province.

San Lupo – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The couple were married in San Lupo on Feb. 2, 1853. They had three sons: Filippo Pacifico Del Vecchio, born May 19, 1855; Abele Del Vecchio (your great-great-grandfather), born Oct 9, 1857; and Carlo Del Vecchio, born Nov. 4, 1859.

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Guiseppe Galella (? – ?)

and Lucia Galella, nee Bengivengo (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-grandparents)

Giuseppe and Lucia Galella were the parents of Sebastiano Galella. Guiseppe was Poppie’s mother’s father’s father. Lucia was Poppie’s mother’s father’s mother. They are among the most remote ancestors that I know of on Poppie’s mother’s side.

Little is known about these ancestors except for the following. Both Guiseppe and Lucia lived in San Fele, Potenza Province.

Poppie also told me that Giuseppe was a cheesemaker by trade.

Giuseppe and Lucia’s son, Sebastiano (your great-great-grandfather), left San Fele and emigrated to America to start a new life.

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Vito Martino (? – ?)

and Livia Martino, nee Lanza (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-grandparents)

Vito and Livia Martino were the parents of Mariantonia Galella, nee Martino. Vito was Poppie’s mother’s mother’s father. Livia was Poppie’s mother’s mother’s mother. These are the other most remote ancestors that I know of on Poppie’s mother’s side.

I’m certain of the names which I obtained from Mariantonia’s birth certificate. re-issued in 1920 probably for immigration purposes.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors except that they are from San Fele, Potenza Province.

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Filippo Del Vecchio (May 2, 1805 – Dec. 11, 1846)

and Maria Dialena Del Vecchio, nee Colacchio (Dec. 10, 1805 – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Filippo and Maria Dialena Del Vecchio were the parents of Felice Alessandro Del Vecchio. Filippo was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s father. Maria was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother.

Filippo Del Vecchio was born on May 2, 1805 in Guardia Sanframondi. He passed away on Dec. 11, 1846.

Maria Dialena Colacchio was born on Dec. 10, 1805 in Guardia Sanfarmondi. Date of death is unknown.

The couple were married on April 23, 1823 in Guardia Sanframondi.

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Luigi Del Vecchio (1761 – Jan. 13, 1848)

and Placida Del Vecchio, nee Di Blasio (1764 – Oct. 25, 1844)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Luigi and Placida Del Vecchio were the parents of Filippo Del Vecchio. Filippo was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father. Placida was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s father’s mother.

Luigi Del Vecchio was born in Guardia Sanframondi sometime in 1761. Luigi passed away on Jan. 13, 1848.

Placida Di Blasio was born in Guardia Sanframondi sometime in 1764. Placida passed away on Oct. 25, 1844 on Strada Ospedale at the home of her son-in-law, Nicole Filipelli (husband of her daughter Emilia, who would have been Filippo Del Vecchio’s sister).

Nothing else is known about these ancestors except for the fact that they were both from Guardia Sanframondi, Benevento Province; that they got married there around 1800; and that they lived there on Strada Fontaniello.

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Vincenzo Colacchio (? – ?)

and Maria Caterina Colacchio, nee Rossi (c. 1776 – Jan. 20, 1853)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Vincenzo and Maria Caterina Colacchio were the parents of Maria Dialena Colacchio. Vincenzo was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s father. Maria Caterina was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother.

Vincenzo Colacchio’s birthplace, date of birth, and date of death are unknown.

Maria Caterina Rossi was born in San Lupo circa 1776. She passed away in Guardia Sanframondi on Jan. 20, 1853.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Libero Del Vecchio (? – ?)

and Unknown Del Vecchio, nee Unknown (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Libero Del Vecchio was the father of Luigi Del Vecchio, and Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father’ father. He is the most remote Del Vecchio I know of. I don’t know anything else about him except his name. Since his son Luigi was born in Guardia Sanframondi it can be assumed that Libero probably lived there around the year 1761, but it is unknown if he was born there or elsewhere.

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Giovanni Di Blasio (? – ?)

and Unknown Di Blasio, nee Unknown (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Giovanni was Placida Di Blasio’s father. He is Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s father. Nothing else is known about him except his name. Since his daughter Placida was born in Guardia Sanframondi it can be assumed that Giovanni probably lived there around the year 1764, but it is unknown if he was born there or elsewhere.

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Giuseppe Rossi (c. 1757 – Nov. 14, 1823)

and Maria Isabella Rossi, nee Bosco (c. 1759 – March 22, 1838)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Giuseppe and Maria Isabella Rossi were the parents of Maria Caterina Rossi. Giuseppe was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father. Maria Isabella was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother.

Giuseppe Rossi was born in San Lupo circa 1757. He passed away on Nov. 14, 1823.

Maria Isabella Bosco was born in San Lupo circa 1759. She passed away on March 22, 1838.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Benedetto Rossi (c. 1722 – Dec. 6, 1803)

and Claudia Rossi, nee Rettino (c. 1723 – Dec. 15, 1813)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Benedetto and Claudia Rossi were the parents of Giuseppe Rossi. Benedetto was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s father. Claudia was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s mother.

Benedetto Rossi was born in San Lupo circa 1722. He passed away on Dec. 6, 1803.

Claudia Rettino was born in San Lupo circa 1723. She passed away on Dec. 15, 1813.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Giuseppe Bosco (? – prior to 1809)

and Laura Bosco, nee Sbrenna (1732 – April 2, 1818)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Giuseppe and Laura Bosco were the parents of Maria Isabella Bosco. Giuseppe was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s father. Laura was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother.

Giuseppe Bosco’s birthplace and date of birth are unknown. All that is known about him is that he passed away sometime prior to 1809.

Laura Sbrenna was born in San Lupo circa 1732. She passed away in San Lupo on Dec. 15, 1813.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Libero Rossi (c. 1690 – ?)

and Cecilia Rossi, nee Campo (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Libero and Cecilia Rossi were the parents of Benedetto Rossi. Libero was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s father’s father. Cecilia was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s father’s mother.

Libero Rossi was born in San Lupo circa 1690. Date of death is unknown.

Cecilia Campo was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Domenico Rettino (c. 1690 – ?)

and Donata Rettino, nee Vaccarella (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Domenico and Donata Rettiono were the parents of Claudia Rettino. Domenico was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s mother’s father. Donata was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s father’s mother’s mother.

Domenico Rettino was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Donata Vaccarella was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Domenico Bosco (? – ?)

and Vittoria Bosco, nee Fatto (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Domenico and Vittoria Bosco were the parents of Giuseppe Bosco. Domenico was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s father’s father. Vittoria was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s father’s mother.

Domenico Bosco was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Vittoria Fatto was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Antonio Sbrenna (? – ?)

and Isabella Sbrenna, nee Saccone (? – ?)

(Your Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents)

Antonio and Isabella Sbrenna were the parents of Laura Sbrenna. Antonio was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s father. Isabella was Poppie’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother.

Antonio Sbrenna was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Isabella Saccone was born in San Lupo. Date of birth and date of death are unknown.

Nothing else is known about these ancestors.

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Dear Lili,

I hope you found this as interesting as I did when I was researching Poppie’s (and our) history. Soon I’ll post Part Two of “Who You Are, Lili” which will be about your paternal grandmother’s (Nonnie’s) family tree. Some of the information about Nonnie’s family may surprise you. (Hint: It looks like you and I are descended from nobility.)

Love always,

Dad 🙂

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