Help needed with a little mystery

Spending a nice quiet Sunday morning doing the usual--going through family files! What else would Pat be doing when she has a few quiet minutes? I came across a little mystery I am hoping some of you will be able to help with by thinking through some of the stories you've heard.

Notes from an interview with Aunt Mary indicate that Peter Manzelli (Marguerite's brother, your mom's uncle) was first married and had a little girl then later lived with another woman ("the Nervo girl") and had no other children. My note says (and I believe I'm quopting Aunt Mary) "this makes Johnny the first official grandchild". I've never thought too much about it and I don't suppose it matters very much who was the first official grandchild (Emily Anne and I have something in common there) BUT genealogy abhors a lost family so I got looking to see if I could find Uncle Peter and this family.

I found a good candidate Peter Manzelli 30 years old in 1930 married for about 10 years to Mildred with 8 year old daughter Evelyn. Aunt Mary says she does not know what happened to the first wife but I wonder if these could be the family? Anyone have any memories of Uncle Peter Manzelli stories? Children named Evelyn? Any Mildred memories?

Neither do I know when Peter died. There's a Peter Manzelli of about the right age who's last residence was Broward County Fort Lauderdale Florida at the time of death August 1978. Any chance this might be the right Peter Manzelli?

If this is the right family, it appears that perhaps Uncle Johnny may not be the first grandchild as he was born about 2 years after Evelyn was born. If you recall any stories it might help me go a little further in this research. I already have found Mildred as a child so it would be interesting to know if I'm on the right trail!

Take care to all. Hope your summer is going well. We expect to see Kathleen and Nick next week at Disney before they come north.

Baby Smiles

I guess the upcoming baptism of Emily got me thinking about babies (mostly my own of course). I can recall very distinctly the first time Ryan grinned at me in that way moms know is just for them and not gas bubbles. Here's the card Michelle sent along when Ryan was born and it says it all about that first smile. I have kept it on my bedroom mirror all these years to more easily bring back the joy that first smile brought. You can click on the image to enlarge it for easier reading.

What little memories do you have of the babies in your life? I was old enough to remember when my mother brought sibling number 5 home. I can still see her coming through the door with the baby for the first time. Another sister wondered why we had ANOTHER and did we have to keep her. That's the advantage of being one of the older ones in the house--no one says that about you!

So think about sweet baby smells, smiles and gurgles. Here's wishing for a blessedly wonderful baptism day for Emily. God Bless.