Anniversaries

This is the blog's 3rd anniversary!  It's been easier than anticipated to keep this current and entertaining (at least for me if not for you!).  Anniversaries and New Year's celebrations are examples of times for reflection.  I don't know about you, but whenever I find myself looking back over the past year, I shake my head at the events flying past my mind's eye as if in cinemascope.  And then I shake my head again wondering what the next 12 months will bring. 

Best wishes to you all in 2011--especially Lindsay and Jesse as well as Brian and Monet.  Another wedding from days past especially for our engaged couples:

I hope everyone had a great Christmas weekend.  We missed you all very much ("Three French Hens" --James, Kathy and I), but it was nice to have our own unhurried Christmas right here.  I don't know how long it has been since we've been here for Christmas Day!  We were fortunate enough to have Amy here as well as my sisters Kathy and Paula.  Our table didn't look quite like this one, but close enough!

The weather prevented us from traveling as we planned.  It occurred to me that feeling kind of far away and separated by forces beyond my control must be similar to the feelings families separated by immigration must feel.  Nothing close to the real thing, I'm certain, but just enough to remind me that families have been separated by circumstance throughout history and yet are able to maintain a certain closeness and familiarity by virtue of sharing DNA.  Much easier for us to maintain communication than for our ancestors but that doesn't diminish the desire for face-to-face time!

Hope to see you soon.  Happy Anniversary to Robert and Bobbie.  Happy Birthday in heaven to Aunt Josie this week. 

Deja Vu all over again

What a difference 25 years can make--or maybe not so much.  As I was thinking about this blog post, it occurred to me that Christmas 1985 and Christmas 2010 are very similar for your family.  James and I had just been married and Jake and Lindsay are celebrating their first married Christmas together this year.  Jake was newly born in December of 1985 and Miles and Dylan were born since the last Christmas.  You had recently lost  loved ones Barbara and Uncle Johnny.  Kathleen was visiting in 1985 so she could hold Jake (above).  Nick and she will be travelling north once again to be part of the family celebration. 

We will hope that children will enjoy their gifts as much and that everyone stays safe and healthy.  We are sorry we cannot join you on the holiday this year, but have no fear--we'll be there just a day or two later.

For James and I, this past year has been full of major changes.  Those changes have brought good things to our lives and 2011 will bring big changes to the Dalpiaz clan as well with two weddings on the horizon!

Kathleen, NIck and James have done amazing work helping my sister these last few days.  I hardly know how to thank you appropriately.  The Gift of Family is, indeed, a family gift.

Maria Dalpiaz 1921-2010

Some days I just wander on the internet to see what I can see.  Today I found notice of the death of your grand Aunt Maria Dalpiaz, wife of Rudolfo.  According to Prince Edward Island Deaths, she died peacefully at her daughter Lolita's in Cornwall Prince Edward Island. 

Lolita and her husband James Monthony live in Cornwall and Sonia lives with her husband Peter Stec in Markham Ontario.  It notes she is the last surviving member of her family. 

Here's your grandmother with Mary and Rudolfo.

It's pretty amazing that this is the second such family obituary I have found recently just by kind of wandering through the internet in search of family history tidbits.  The other was for the Irish side and caught me quite by surprise.  Again, I wonder in the magic of the world we live in today.  Seems logical considering the season!

Polenta Primer

I admit I don't know polenta from potash, but there was a bit of recent email conversation about it between siblings.  I've stolen the essence of this conversation for this post.

From Robert: Bobbie and I had a visit with Aunt Rose and Uncle Lou last night. Louis happened to be in town and we had a great time telling old stories. Aunt Rose mentioned that Grandpa had three polenta pots made for each of his children when he was over in Europe. I saw Aunt Rose's. It is heavy copper with a heavy copper handle. I don't remember ever seeing such a pot at Dad's house. Does anyone remember seeing this pot? Does anyone have the pot? I'm just curious. 

By the way, we got some great old recipes from Aunt Rose, including polenta. We will gladly share at Christmas.

 

Of course, this got me looking for copper polenta pot images.  Does Aunt Rose's look something like this?  Somehow I'm guessing NOT.

Then from Jean: I do remember Grandpa bringing a pot when he made polenta at our house on occasion...I don't know if he ever left one. I started a draft of a children's story a while ago about Grandpa...my own 

recollection of him, but I never got much past a draft, but polenta is in there. I am attaching it, rough as it is, since I know I will not get back to that or any other writing any time soon...

Good luck on the pot hunt..well, you know what I mean.

 

 I'm not including Jean's story here as I don't have the author's permission (but nice job!)

 

Kathleen's response: 

What a great story. It is exactly how I remember it. In fact, you remember the pot better than me. I'm sorry you never went any further with it. I liked polenta. Just like Thomas's remembrance of the car racing, it is so good to read someone else's. We should capture these stories for the next generation when we can. Do I sound too sappy?

 

No, Kathleen.  You do not sound too sappy.

 

This web page gave me a great feel for what you remember:  Polenta Traditions and Memories  Enjoy!

 

Happy Birthday shout out to Jake!  And, as Roberto says   A presto (see you soon)

 

 

James and Robert's Great Adventure

Happy Birthday Brad and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a grand time at Jean's with friends and family!  Congratulations Lindsay and Jesse!!!!  So much fun to look forward to a wedding (or two).

I thought you all might enjoy Robert's version of the weekend he and James had together recently:

Here's some of the things we did:

1. Walked thu Fort Greene Park. Highest point in Brooklyn and location of Revolutionary War Fort Greene.

2. Walked thu Brooklyn Metro Center. New area with tech schools and offices with large plazas where concerts are sometimes given. You thought maybe Marching Bands could possibly march thru and perform. Located between Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge.

3. Walked over Brooklyn Bridge

4. Lunch at Seaport. Found Bodies Exhibition, half price TKTS location, and lounges on third deck of pier 17.

5. Walked across town on Fulton St. to World Trade Center site. Saw St. Paul's Cathedral. It is the oldest public building in Manhattan. Here's the website: /www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/

6. Subway to Columbus Circle, saw Jazz at Lincln Center. www.jazzatlincolncenter.org/

7. Walked up to Lincoln Center (Broadway & 64th)

8. Saw filming of "Tower Heist"

9.Walked to Gingerman (120 beers on tap, most in Manhattan) (36th & 5th ave)

10. Went to Tea Lounge. Quirky music club in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 

11. Walked home past Grand Army Plaza and the entrance to Prospect Park. (Largest park in Brooklyn, created by the same guys that created Central Park.

1. Next day went to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Found a retro junk place to check out. 

2. Went to Brooklyn Brewery and had a great beer tour. In addition to the old breweries, we saw St Mary's Church.Here's the website: 

www.mhtbrookyn.org.

3. Had dinner in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

4. Went to Smoke Jazz Club in Morningside Heights (Broadway & 105th). Saw jazz legend Curtis Fuller, tenor player Eric Alexander. Can't remember trumpet player's name. Here's website: www.smokejazz.com.

That's not to mention the two smelly guys and the Erkel look-a-likes on the subway.

And there you go!  By the way, a picture from the filming of Tower Heist is in this week's People magazine.

Now that Thanksgiving is done, I guess it's back to the real world.  Sending college students back; Christmas preparation  and back to work (for some of us!)

400 Posts and a Dead Deer

This blog will soon mark its third anniversary and between the two blogs I maintain (one for the Irish and one for the Italians), I have now reached 400 total posts!  I think that's a great accomplishment.  I hope to be able to maintain the pace of posting weekly.  And with stories such as these, it will be a piece of cake:

I have a little hunting story to tell (sort of).  As you may or may not know, I came home one day last week to have Jim point out that we were the proud caretakers of the dead deer in the backyard.  Indeed, he pointed out a large looking; dead looking; deer looking animal lying at the edge of the property pretty much where the tire swing used to be (Kathleen remember?)

Now, I know you all have met us and already are aware that this area of expertise is not in our frame of reference.  Jim had called the DEC (no answer); the town (no help) and the county--who told him that they would pick up dead deer at the side of the road but not on personal property. After conferring with his hunting and outdoor experts Ron and Glenn, it was decided that the best thing would be for Jim to drag the deer down to the roadside for the county to take care of.  

By now it is beginning to get dark and Jim is trying to figure out the details of how this might go.  He had the chain and the garden tractor and figured he was set.  He wanted to use the Lincoln to illuminate the area, but fortunately for me Glenn arrived just about that time.  I was worried that the weight of the deer sliding down the hill behind the tractor could out-race the tractor and drag Jim down the hill instead of the other way around.

I was giggling to myself at the silliness of this all and really wishing it wasn't so dark so that I could document this event for future generations.  Ryan called and I was explaining what his dad was doing while trying to peer outside and get a better view.  As is typical, it seemed Ryan was only about half paying attention to what I was saying (in this case that was fair because I was only paying half attention to him) and I could tell that he was texting while on the phone with me.  He was asking random questions peppered throughout the conversation about the size of the deer, did it have antlers, how many points etc.  He noted a friend nearby who might be interested in the deer.  OK OK I was thinking as I wasn't really giving it my full attention.

Glenn and Jim decided to drag the deer down themselves by its heels to the roadside.  Just in time to meet the truck that Ryan's friend drove over to pick up the deer.  The friend conducted a little CSI style investigation and determined it had been shot and that  he could use the deer for whatever and happily loaded it up and carted it away.  All before the 6 o'clock news on a random Monday night in November.  Only in today's connected world can a phone call from Cortland result in driveway to driveway carcass removal services before it even had a chance to settle itself again!  

What an interesting experience!  Jim counts this as his first "kill" and the neighbors have some extra venison in the freezer--thanks to texting.  And no one got hurt (well, except the deer who was apparently shot illegally).  So, as they say.....here's your sign!  You might be a redneck if.........you find a dead deer in the yard and drag it to curbside like a to-go window at McDonalds. Here's to 400 more!

Randomness

Just some random thoughts this week.  First, birthday shout outs to Brian, Thomas, Michelle, Steve, Lindsay and Brad!  November sure is a big month for you guys. 

It's been so beautiful out recently that it's kind of hard to reconcile the springlike sunshine with the bare trees and dead grass.  Well, some of you don't have either of those things but nevertheless (I did promise randomness today).  I was able to plant my spring bulbs--who knew I'd be able to do that (almost) comfortably so late in the season?  Whenever I plant new bulbs, I mark time over the winter awaiting their blooms in the spring.  Likely, I've just given the local squirrels and rodents a nice Thanksgiving feast with those bulbs!

As you may know, James has been spending some time with Robert this week.  It's great that brothers get to spend some time together.  When I saw Aunt Rose at Aunt Josie's coffin last week, I was reminded how difficult it is to say goodbye to your sister no matter the circumstances.  It might be for the best, it might be there's no more suffering, it might not be a surprise but it's never easy.  Siblings have special bonds and these need to be nourished so I'm glad James and Robert had some time this week.

Josephine Dalpiaz Albertini 1926-2010

This is how I would like to remember Aunt Josie--laughing and happy at a family celebration.  We were sorry to learn she died yesterday.  I always enjoyed our visits.  She had a great memory and ability to tell the stories of her family.  She was a trusted resource for me and I will miss her very much, as I am sure you will also.  May she rest in peace with her mother and her brother especially. 

Happy Halloween!

Have a great Halloween!

 

Aww....how sweet

Adorable!

Ummmmmm--Happy Birthday Ryan!

Dope Slap Genealogy

This is the tale of one of those family history discoveries where you just want to dope-slap yourself for being so stupid.  And this particular 1910 census record has already provided interesting surprises in it and is now yielding another.

In the 1900 census, the Coffarelli family lived at 75 Fifth Street.  The household included head of house John (your great grandfather) who lists himself as a laborer, his wife Rosa and children Margaret (the eldest and only born in Italy); Mary, Elizabeth, Theresa, Lena, Joseph, Phillip, Lucy and Samuel (your grandfather whom we know as James). 

In the 1910 census, the coffarelli family lived at the same address but by now Rosa had died and the household included:  John, Elizabeth, Tessie, Lena, Joseph, Phillip, Louise, Samuel, Nicholas (father to John so your great great grandfather) and cousin Michael Pinto. 

I had become obsessed with tracking down your grandfather James' siblings so as to demonstrate that indeed there were (and are) lots of Coffarellis out there for you to meet.  In some ways this was no small task given what this family seemed to do with first names by changing them seemingly at will.  But I did pretty well.

Going up the line from James youngest to oldest, I found that Louise married Michael Barra and I met her grandson.  Phillip apparently never married.  Joseph married but had no children.  Lena married Anthony Fierro and I do believe there are children in this family.  Tessie became a nun.  Elizabeth apparently never married and was known as Christine when she died.  Mary (who was not in the house in 1910) had married John Orabell and had at least one child who died nearly at birth.  But I was having a really hard time with the oldest Margaret.

From James' newspaper obituary I knew that Margaret was Mrs. M. Disabto.  A great deal of fruitless searching for her left me frustrated but even more determined.  Online I located a Disabto family Marco and Innocence and the family tree listed Innocence as Innocence Coffarelli before marriage.  When I tracked that family down, I found them living at 75 Fifth Avenue IN THE SAME HOUSE as John and the remaining siblings.  Look carefully at the census record and there they are right below cousin Michael Pinto. 

I had overlooked that this family was living in the same house.  Most maddeningly I had recognized the Disabto name and figured this was how Margaret met her husband because the families were neighbors.  Duh.  They ARE the family.  Margaret is apparently Innocence.  I sent away for the two oldest of her children's birth records.  They each list a Coffarelli for the mother's maiden name but not quite the same first names:  Innocentia and Enogensia--I figure that's close enough to feel comfortable in saying this Disabto family are your Coffarellis.  And they were right there all the time!!!  Right under my nose just waiting to be recognized.

Innocence/Margaret was Marco/Mark's second wife and it appears he died around 1923.  She may have died around 1955 but this isn't confirmed yet.  She had at least two boys George and James but I don't see any Disabto names in your mom's address book.  Ring any bells? 

This family was pretty loosey-goosey with first names it seems.  It wasn't until I got the bigger picture that I realized that and can now make it part of my research strategy.  I feel like I've gathered up all those siblings and got them accounted for nicely.  There you go!  A whole bunch of new cousins for you to consider.  And they are right here in front of us just waiting to be recognized.

The Adventures of Hardy James and Fleet-of-Foot Pat

We have recently returned from a glorious weekend in Boston and Gloucester.  I had a genealogy conference to attend on Saturday so James was let loose on the city of Boston for the day.  He managed to get to see Drew and Obama in the same day (well, almost--he actually got to visit Drew and found himself caught up in the rally prepping for Obama's Boston visit on Saturday).

From there we proceeded to Gloucester to celebrate our birthdays with some serious family time, sightseeing and other weekend fun.  We visited a couple of Gloucester highlights that we've never been to before, including the Eastern Point Lighthouse and Dogbar breakwater.  We learned how to get out there from a self guided tour provided by our hotel.  Regarding the breakwater it stated:  "If you are hardy and fleet of foot you can walk out to the end of the breakwater."  And we did get out to the Breakwater Light.  I think the breakwater itself might be more than 1/2 mile of almost unfinished granite blocks.  You could see the city line of Boston in the distance.

We were hardy and fleet of foot enough to get out there and back without serious injury.  From there we went to Halibut Point State Park which is a large (former) granite quarry sitting right at the ocean's edge.

Here you see the old quarry in the front and the ocean behind.  We walked around the quarry to the ocean side.  Hardy and fleet of foot once again allowed us to have this rare picture together--I had to set the timer and dash across the boulders in time for the camera to take this token of the day:

 Happy Birthday to us!

10/10/10

Well, it's official.  James is now officially retired and celebrated in grand fashion at his retirement/birthday party at the Binghamton Mets Stadium on Sunday.  We were glad that Ryan, the Bulmans, and Robert were able to be part of the big day.  We were also treated to a musical birthday wish from Brandon and Thomas--which I have recorded for posterity.  You never know when something like that will come in handy.  Thomas called with some pondeirng about the significance of 10/10/10 and tuning 55 (therefore born 1955).  I heard many people chose to be married  10/10/10 for good luck.  Seemed pretty special to me as well but James has had his share of epic birthday celebrations.

This is 1986 when the gorilla visited to wish him Happy Birthday.  He wasn't too happy that it interrupted his Columbus Day parade rehearsal.  Too bad.

I'm sure you all remember his surprise 40th

My, how a mere 15 years has aged us!!!  Thank you all for your good wishes and for being a special part of James' life--even though you didn't have a choice as family!!  But that's what makes it so wonderfully magical. 10/10/10

Sorry for the Delay

I hope you missed me!  I'm not sure how two weeks slipped by without a blog post.  Must be this new rhythm James and I are trying to get used to around here.  This will be James last week at work.  We are very grateful that teaching allows you to retire relatively early with financial security that many people don't enjoy.  It's hard work that takes its toll physically, mentally and emotionally but is balanced by great rewards.  Congratulations James. 

Although he hasn't begun official retirement quite yet, we find ourselves easing into a new lifestyle.  Weekends are especially open now and we took some advantage of that this weekend.  I travelled to Cortland on Friday with Ron and Marilyn Henry to watch another student play field hockey against Cortland and Ryan joined us.  I'm happy to say my alma mater Geneseo defeated Cortland in overtime!  Anyhow, it was good to spend some time with Ryan on his campus and give Ron and Ryan some time together again. 

Saturday James and I drove to Erie to see Amy just because we could.  Amy gave us an abbreviated zoo tour (rain and cold) introducing us to all her animal friends by name.  She entertained us with their back stories and trivia.  Other zoo visitors were drawn to her as she was telling these stories.  It seemed she didn't even notice that others were really interested in what she had to say about these animals.  She was very comfortable, even in scolding an errant bird trying to escape its habitat.  It obeyed!  It was a quick tour but we can see she is very happy and thriving in this job.  It was gratifying to see and allowed me to relax a bit about her being so far away seemingly yanked from my grasp so quickly.

We took her to dinner then sent her off to her own apartment.  She had to work today on an outreach almost 100 miles away.  This morning we headed back to Harpursville feeling pretty good about both children. 

Then the phone rang.  Ryan awoke in the night with an ear ache.  He is prone to ear infections that can go bad really fast.  He said the student health center was closed and he didn't know quite what to do.  So we detoured to Cortland to take him to get some medical attention.  Apparently the only walk in option in Cortland is the hospital which hosts a "prompt care" clinic in conjunction with the emergency room.  Although it "only" took two hours to get  him treated and medicated, he was a bit impatient but I was very happy to know he still needs me!  And I have the added benefit of knowing he's not going to find himself in nasty sudden pain from this just as he's preparing for midterms. 

I don't know if you watch the TV show The Middle which is just starting its second season.  It's about an average family in average situations (well, maybe the situations are 2-3 steps beyond average but they are quite real).  This week's episode focused on the Mom wanting to share some time in the spotlight with her teenage son that didn't go quite as planned but at the end he needed her too and it was very sweet.  We are both very lucky.

Two Mile Handicap

We learned so much from the time we spent with Angela in Uncle Johnny's house last weekend!  Of course, as so often happens, each new discovery leads to another mystery.  I learned that your grandfather James was a World War I soldier in the US Army and that his brothers John and Phillip also served.  James took many pictures during his service in Italy and they are very carefully placed and labeled in a precious album that was found in the attic.  His careful notes and thoughtful pictures paint a picture of a man who cared very much about the world around him and the people in it.  I'm certain we will learn a great deal from these records so lovingly kept.

This is from a notebook kept by James Coffarelli probably during his time of service in World War I when he was just about 21 years old!  First of all, note the address for M. Disabto whom I believe to be his oldest sister Marguerite (the only sibling born in Italy)

Perhaps this was well before he met his bride as I see several young ladies listed here along with his sister's address, but no Marguerite Manzelli!  What great handwriting he has.

Now here's a letter sent from a lawyer to someone named HA Kellum in 1886

This obviously has nothing to do with your grandfather James as it was written 12 years before he was even born.  But as it was in your uncle's treasured possessions, we can conclude it meant something to someone in the Coffarelli family over 100 years ago!

This is another item in those treasures and here we see H.A. Kellum again.  I've done a little bit of research and discovered that the Queens Amateur Athletic Club at that time was a raceground for bicycles--thus the two mile handicap.  H.A. Kellum's name appears as a participant in several such races of the time period but I have NO idea what the connection to the Coffarelli family might be.  From bicycles in the 19th century to Mustangs in the 20th!

So we have a bit of a two mile handicap of our own here to figure this out--any thoughts?

James and I decided yesterday to take a drive and visit with Angela and Bill.  Cousin Jim had mentioned in an email that they had begun working on their father's house and had found some interesting things in the attic from your grandfather James Coffarelli.  Angela was very gracious in taking us over to the house (I'd never been there) and showing some of the treasures discovered in the attic.  This is amazing stuff!  It's a wonder it stayed hidden up in that attic for all these years unknown to those closest to Uncle Johnny.   I assume that since he was the oldest child, much of this was left in his care.  There is quite a bit there related to your grandfather including his chauffeur licenses; a journal he kept while in Italy during World War I, pictures and a letter he wrote to his young son John while he was hospitalized encouraging him to be brave but not shy.  Definitely a gold mine.  I appreciate Angela's willingness to take the time and to share.

This picture is one of the pictures in Uncle Johnny's house.  Seeing it there was the final link for me in solving the mystery of this photo.  It appears to be two children celebrating First Communion.  The first time I saw this picture, it was in that big box of pictures from  your family that was in Robert's house.  That meant it could be Dalpiaz or Coffarelli related. 

Then I met your Coffarelli cousin Mike Barra who is Louise Coffarelli Barra's grandson.  Louise was next oldest sibling to your grandfather James (who was the  youngest of 9).  And he has the same picture!  So that meant this was Coffarelli related.  Mike was certain the girl in the picture was his grandmother Louise.  I supposed it was possible the boy was James, her brother but I wasn't sure if siblings would have shared First Communion at that time.  We certainly aren't used to that in the Roman Catholic Church today and I just didn't know enough about Church tradition of the time.

When we saw this picture in Uncle Johnny's stuff, it pretty much confirms for me that the boy is most likely James.  So although I am still not certain, this picture went from being largely unknown to fairly confirmed through the (sort of) random visits and picture shuffling with relatives.  Deliberate work with random luck pretty well defines family history research.

More to come.....

For the first time in 17 years, we aren't taking a "First Day of School" picture.  I honestly don't know what happened; how my life got to this stage with me barely noticing the months and years go by.  You just put your head down and do what needs to get done day to day then POOF --it's gone and you don't need to put your head down except to regain your composure when it's time to leave the dorm room.

The house is too quiet and the afternoon hours drag their way into the evening hours.  The quiet has a different tone now that Amy's starting her life as a real grown up and Ryan has started college.  It's scary and it's deep and I suspect I'll get used to it.  In the past 17 years there have been times I said to myself  "My mother told me there'd be days like this" (she didn't) and "Someday I'm going to miss this" racket chaos and confusion.  How did we get to "Someday" so fast?

Ryan wanted to come home this first weekend; he and I both knew it was too soon.  It was one of those times when you do what's incredibly hard for you for their benefit and I told him I thought it wasn't a good idea.  When we discovered he was scheduled to work the entire weekend at the Mets, a lovely door labeled "Excuse" opened right up.

Ryan is adjusting really well to college and I'd misjudged his reasons for wanting to come home.  It healed my heart to see him and hear his stories about his classes, his room and his friends.  For these few days, we each got to judge the other's state of mind and the silence slipped away.  Taking him back was a joy since I knew he was happy, ready and able to start this next phase with confidence. 

I think I can face this opening day with this visit in my memory bank.  How ironic that this weekend was so healing yet it went against every single piece of advice given to parents of college students.  Sometimes you just have to go with what's in your heart in order to mend it.

 This is especially for Linda and Jean--I'm right here with you!

Virtual Cemetery Stomping

This is the gravesite of your great great grandparents Graziano and Antonia Isoldi.  Like the Manzelli masoleum, this is also located at the Calvary Cemetery in Woodside.  I just never got a chance to get there myself.  This picture was sent to me at my request by a volunteer cemetery stomper.  For which I am very grateful.

Graziano died in 1934 while in his 80s.  Most of his life here in the US he lived at the same address in Long Island City.  His address changed in later years but he had the same neighbors so I am inclined to believe there was some sort of redistricting or some such that resulted in street name and number changes.  He listed himself as a junk dealer or rag man.  Perhaps today he'd be called a "picker"??

As far as I know, there were 4 children in this family.  The oldest, Giovanna (Anna), married Giuseppe (Joseph) Manzelli.  They are your great grandparents.  Although three names appear on this monument, cemetery records indicate 5 are buried here.  Besides Antonia and Graziano, you see Michael who also died in 1934 just a few months after his father.  I believe this to be Anna's brother.  Also buried here are 5 year old George and 4 year old Vincent.  I do not know who these children are yet but I am supposing they may be nephews to Anna.  Another mystery to delve into someday!  I don't know why they are not listed on the monument but it looks sort of new to me (at least in terms of the first death listed being in 1912) and perhaps these children were unknown to whomever purchased the monument.  I love the angel though!  It appears not to match the monument, lending some credence to the theory that the monument is more recent. 

The Isoldis remain an open book for me--lots of research potential there.  One of Marilyn's letters promised the story of the Isoldis, but she never got the chance to share it with me.  If Marilyn knew their story, perhaps someone else does as well so it remains an intriguing remainder on my list of family history to-do items.

It is very hard to believe 20 years have gone by since your mother died.  We think of her often as I am sure you do as well.  God Bless. 

Brian and Gram 1989

If it was a snake, it would have bit me

A while back I was visiting the local history museum and the staff asked me to research a piece for them to see if I could figure out what it was. 

It looked like it was probably a piece of farm equipment, but that's all I felt safe in guessing.  It's kind of hard to research "red farm equipment maybe" with any kind of efficiency or potential to hit it right on the mark.  So I let it go until I was recently reminded they were waiting for some magic from me so this item could be appropriately displayed.  This time I noticed it was called "The Clipper" and the manufacturer was also listed so off I went with my research feeling pretty confident.  Upon checking and rechecking the photos I had taken originially, I noticed for the first time that the machine TELLS us that it is a "grain and seed cleaner".

The answer was right there all along and I just hadn't seen it because I was concentrating on the whole piece instead of its parts. 

So goes family history research.  Lots and lots of times the answers are sitting right there waiting for me to find them again.  In my MESSA family folder I recently found a ship manifest from 1920 listing Francesco and Onofrio Messa which I printed out because I thought they were probably your grandfather Jake's brothers.  Notice the record says they are from Castellano which matches what Aunt Josie has told me.

This time I studied the record more carefully and noticed that it lists for "the name and complete address of the nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came" father Luigi Via Felice Cavalletti Castellano.  I believe Luigi to be the name of Jake's father and I believe he lived in Castellano.  This gives me Luigi's address which somehow makes him seem very real, especially when you look it up on Google Earth or a mapping program.  It also helps to verify that these are members of your family.  This piece of information had previously been overlooked but now seals the deal in my belief that these are relatives AND gives me a solid location for the MESSA family in Bari Italy. 

It's right there just waiting to be discovered.  Seems like a pretty good motto to live by.  Or a travel jingle.

A Little Bird Told Me...

These baby birds were nesting in a tree in our yard until recently.  I hope they left because it was time for them to leave--they look fairly big here--and not because my camera stalking chased them away.  I just think this is a very cool shot so I wanted to share it even though I do not have the same nature photo taking skills as Pat or Nick!

Yesterday I was standing on the deck talking to James who was working in the yard, so I was kind of leaning on the railing.  There was a little commotion in my peripheral vision and I turned to look straight into the face of a curious hummingbird!  She was right there so close I could touch her.  She was just suspended in the air looking straight at me as if to say "you got anything for me?".  It lasted longer than I would have expected it to before she took off leaving me feel like I'd had a special connection with nature (yea, me--a special connection with nature!).  Several days later and I still feel like I've been specially visited.

Did anyone besides me notice today is 8-9-10??  I'm glad to see Brad has made his own Shutterfly site--I'm enjoying it--thanks for sharing Brad!  James and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last week by going to a Binghamton Mets game for a beer and a hot dog.  Well, at least there's something to be said for tradition......and James got to throw out the first pitch.  And it did NOT sail over the backstop, despite other reports.  Enjoy what remains of the summer. 

Manzelli Mausoleum

Thanks to Angela's generosity and skeleton key skills, we were able to find and get inside the Manzelli mausoleum recently.  It is, as Marilyn told me, "a very special place" and I'm very glad I was able to be part of the field trip out there for a visit. 

I remember wondering out loud about how the mausoluem came to be built as the patricarchs were barbers, junk dealers and priests.  So I went back and re-read Marilyn's letters and this is what she had to say:  "...when the ill mother came to America Fr. Pasquale took care of her at St. Joseph's Rectory in New Rochelle.  In the meantime the three brothers decided to build a family mauseleum at Calvary Cemetery where the whold family could be buried.  It is a marble chapel with 4 tombs on each side and an altar and stained glass window of St. Joseph.  Underneath the floor there are 4 tombs on each side and then 4 more fit in the middle.  Then there are 18 graves outside in the dirts.  When Marguerite died the mauseleum was finished and she was buried there.  ....When I was in Pietraroia I visited the cemetery where Andrew and his daughter Marguerite are buried.  I picked up some pebbles and brought them to the altar at Calvary."  The three brothers she refers to must be your great grandfather Joseph, his brother the barber Giacomo (who lived with Joseph and his family) and the priest Pasquale.  They certainly built a fine family remembrance. 

Some of us were wondering about some of the names listed there as they were unfamiliar, especially Delorise Manzelli

Of course I could not resist doing a little bit of research into this after I came home.  And it is developing into an intriguing story--maybe.  Delorise might be the daughter of a 4th Manzelli brother Michael (or Michelangelo).  The 1930 census lists a Michael Manzelli family in Queens with mother Amelia and children Marguerite, Deloris and sister in law Adela (Amelia's sister).  Deloris is listed as 21 years old; immigrated in 1913 and working on some sort of shoe machines (presumably in a factory).  If this is the same Delorise, I'm assuming for now that she never married.  Delorise Manzelli has some kind of tie to Sayville!  Her Social Security Death record lists Sayville as the address her last payment went to.  City directories indicate she lived in Long Island City for a time in the 1990s. 

There is also a Delorinda Manzelli arriving Ellis Island with family mother Amelia, sister Marguerite, brother Vittorio, another sister (escapes me right now) heading to 469 Hamilton St--the Manzelli homestead.  However, Delorinda is listed at 12 years old in 1911 so there's a significant age discrepancy if this is the same family. 

Long story short, it's still a mystery but the Sayville connection intrigues me.  If anyone living close to the Sayville Public Library cares to go and see if there's an obituary for Delorise Manzelli Sept 25 2004 perhaps some of the mystery can be cleared up!

It was a great celebration weekend, wasn't it? Babies and graduations; retirements and new musicians made for a grand gathering. Thanks to Linda and Jean for all the work they did to make the graduation celebration so special for Mallory, Ryan, Drew and Amy. Special thanks to Pat for hosting and endless stream of visitors with constant grace and aplomb (yes, aplomb-- a word that looks as though it might be insulting but is actually a compliment).



The weekend events brought to mind the endless timeline of family interactions around life events, food and fun. Angela was kind enough to loam me an old family movie from a vacation at Hickory Lodge which I've sent off to be transferred to DVD. We think it's from sometime in the 1940s so I'm hoping we can see how your ancestors spent their leisure time together.


In the meantime...see how history repeats itself....

Last week we had news from Peru and this week we are thinking about Scott and Drew in Australia!  Now that's probably NOT something that was an everyday kind of thing for your parents to consider.  

News from Peru!

I have to say I'm really surprised by how much I've gotten out of my participation in Facebook.  I joined primarily to keep in touch with my high school classmates but the family connections have also been enhanced by this level of sharing.  It's an amazing world we live in.

Patty Ruska sent me the following through Facebook today about your cousin Jim's mission work in Peru: 
I don't know if any of our ancestors ever worked in missions, but Uncle Jim is just returning from a mission trip to Peru. I thought this may make for an interesting blog post :) Here's what he had to tell Colleen:

Colleen Ruska July 11 at 1:15pm
Uncle jim sent me this message from Peru....Just wanted to share it with yall. :-)

Found a blindingly slow internet conection here at the "hotel", at this point the cold showers fel good... and we hae real beds and flush toils.. We arrived in Nueovo Papaplaya on Monday afternoon after an 8.5 hour boat ride down river from Yurimaguas ) google that!. Just arrived back to Yuirmaguas this afternoon. What an adventure.... I have lots to to share, the boat ride in was surreal - like a disney or universal studios ride... only it was no amusement park. OK, tell your mother and Aunties I´m at least on my way home we leave at midnight on Sunday... I spend most of Monday traveling expct to be in Bethlehem around 8 pm. I need to go put anti-itch cream all over my body now.... Gnite! still have no cellphone connection so I´ll be off-line till monday... bye

And I agree that it makes a great blog post.   Jim said Google Nueovo Papa Laya so I did.  Here's a link to click for some additional info.  Wow!  See you soon.  I wish I knew how to say that in Peruvian.

Another elusive Coffarelli has been found!  This is truly an example of serendipitous fortune.  As often happens, I was looking for someone else when this newspaper article kind of fell into my lap.

Elizabeth is the third daughter of John and Rose Coffarelli--your grandfather James' sister.  I wasn't certain what happened to her after her brother died in 1934--she was listed as a surviving sister at that time.   I believe she lived at home with her father after her mother Rose died.  Since her older sisters married and moved away, I picture that she acted as the female head of the house.  She held a variety of jobs including "Flower Maker" and factory operator.  

This obituary tells me she never married.  I do not know where "Christine" came from but I have an old note from your house (probably a funeral card) that listed her death date and name as C. Elizabeth.  I don't know if she was visiting her nephew (sister Louise's son) or if she lived there, but you will note she was buried in Catskill Jefferson Heights.  This obituary also tells me that her other sisters Louise, Margaret and Theresa (the nun) survived her along with her brother Joseph.  So I can continue to look for Margaret after 1947.  

Elizabeth died at a fairly young age, as did several of the other Coffarellis (her mother, her brothers James and Phillip; her sister Mary), but now she is found and properly noted in our family tree.  When such a discovery falls into my lap the way this did, I wear my sparkly Genealogy Gem pin so people ask me what the pin means.  Then I can tell the story, because not everyone reads this blog to keep up on such news!!!

We are looking forward to the big weekend!  See you all soon.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th!  I hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend.  For the first time in several weeks, I feel like I have some actual downtime--the way it is supposed to be in the summer.  James took a trip to Nashville for a few days in preparation for his work as a tour guide for school groups.  Ryan's fallen into a pattern of some farm work in the mornings and Binghamton Mets stadium work in the evenings.  Amy is recovering from getting bonked with a set of elk antlers that fell out of a cupboard at the zoo.  How else would you spend a holiday weekend??

Pardon this country girl but I'm still trying to get the full picture of this Fire Island expedition.  When I was a kid, we just got in the car to go to the beach....who knew there were people in the world who got on a boat to get to the beach?!?!?  It should be a grand celebration of new babies Dylan and Miles; new graduates Amy Ryan and Drew; newly retired Bobbie and James....I've likely left someone or something out and I certainly don't mean to.  It will be great to see the Coffarelli cousins again!  It promises to be an historic family event.
This is what one of the recent reunions looked like:

1994

Be there or be square!!

Chapters in our lives

I must have been told a dozen times yesterday that high school graduation marks the start of a new chapter.  Indeed, this is true.  Congratulation Mallory, Drew and Ryan on your graduation and for making your parents so proud they don't know what to do with themselves. 

2010 indeed seems to have become a amjor turning point for the Dalpiaz clan.  We are blessed with new babies Miles and Dylan.  Amy has a job in her field in an economy that doesn't hold out much hope for such.  If I'm reading Facebook right, Brad has also landed a job in his field--our two recent college graduates.  James and Bobbie have decided to hang up their school keys.  Each household celebrates its own milestones along the way and another chapter begins. 

In order for a new chapter to begin, one has to end.  We have lost beloved family members, which often creates an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with each other in a new light.  Even under these circumstances, we are very fortunate.  Very fortunate.  Bless you all.

Father's Day 2010

This Father's Day seems especially poignant this year.  The Dalpiaz clan is experiencing the absolute joy of welcoming Miles and Dylan to the world.  At the same time, Scott, Angela, Marguerite, Jimmy and Jean are dealing with the unique black hole created on the first holidays since the passing of their loved ones.

Of course, this joy and grief are shared by immediate and extended family members like the ripples on the pond when a pebble is dropped.  The ripples are deep and most pronounced at the center and fade as they widen but the affect the entire pond. 

So we welcome the new dads to the fold--Ron and Brian!  And we honor those whose legacy lives on in our other family dads Robert, James, Thomas, Steve, Scott, Bob, Jake, Jimmy, Bill.  Have a great day!

Gobsmacked

I don't really know what "Gobsmacked" means exactly but it sounds just right for how I have been feeling since James' concert. It was an amazing evening filled with love. Words truly escape me as they seem so very inadequate so I'll let pictures tell some of the story. I just didn't have the strength to lift my camera during Ryan's tribute to his dad, so that will just have to live on in the memories of those in attendance. For those of you that made the journey, we feel truly blessed. I'm so happy you were able to be there to bear witness to your parents' legacy.



Welcome to the world Dylan! You've been born into a wonderfully warm and loving family. Congratulations Monet and Brian. We can't wait to meet the newest Dalpiaz!

Storm Front Moving In

As I write this, a fast moving storm front is barreling through Broome County.  One minute the sun is shining and the next, leaves turn their backs in anticipation of the torrents of rain coming along in the next few moments.  And the blue sky returns.....for a bit. 

Welcome to my world lately.  Even under the circumstances, the weather seems more stable than day to day activities at 2682 Colesville Road recently!  It's a roller coaster ride but we're enjoying it immensely.  I suspect many of you are also on a similar ride these days, so I'll just post some catch up news for you to enjoy on your own schedule. 

Ryan left for his senior trip early this morning.  They have renewed a Harpursville tradition by going to Washington DC for their trip.  James is currently sitting in the SNY box at Citifield and he's in heaven as you can imagine.  I was left here to deal with the storm front, but that's OK.........

Friday was our annual end of year celebration fondly known as Moving Up Day (or MUD--a terrible acronym to use).  James was honored at the high school assembly with a slideshow presentation and yearbook dedication.  The middle school yearbook was also dedicated to him!  I don't believe the same person has ever been awarded both yearbook dedications.  He was very touched and so were the students and teachers.  It was a grand tribute.  James was gracious and your parents would have burst with pride.

Moving Up Day also brings some end of year awards to the seniors.  I'm tearing up writing this as it is a great honor that Ryan was named the male Babe Ruth Award winner.  This award is chosen by the staff to acknowledge one senior boy and one senior girl and I'll let the certificate describe it for you:

It's a great honor and tribute to his time as a Harpursville student.  He often wondered why he rarely received other sorts of recognitions along the way and I hoped someday he would learn that it's those little steps along the way that build up to the big overall picture.  This was a great affirmation of that philosophy. 

Amy LOVES her job and it's a great relief that she is employed at all and that she seems happy in Erie PA.  She hosted breakfast with the orangutans, passed the test (whatever this could be) to handle hissing cockroaches, and fed the giraffes.  It was a challenge getting her there and set up but it's working out for her too. 

I've been buffeted around by these winds of change and so far have been able to land on my feet to face the next round!  I hope the same especially for those of you with graduates in the house, those of you with new babies to hug, those of you with retirement to celebrate and those of you celebrating the end of the school year for yourselves and for your children!

Memorial Day 2010

Jim and Ryan are off to perform their last Memorial Day services.  The flag is flying. The spiedies are thawing.   It's a glorious day.  Thought I would take a minute to remember some of your veteran ancestors.  I don't know much about Philip Coffarelli just yet but a very kind soul took this picture of his gravestone at Long Island National Cemetery for me.

It looks like your Uncle Phil (every family should have an Uncle Phil) served in the Quartermaster's Corps which would have provided supplies of all sorts to the troops.  I'd like to learn more about Philip and this time in his life.  
 
I also found this picture of "Uncle Joe's" gravestone in Pine Bush.  I don't know much about him either but Marguerite has some stories of him to share that I'd like to learn more about.  He was apparently somewhat irascible and wasn't too good about keeping up with house repairs.  Aunt Mary once fell right through the floor!

In fact, all three boys Philip, Joseph and your grandfather James are listed on St. Mary's "Roll of Honor in the Service of our Country from St. Mary's Parish Long Island City" published September 28 1918.  I am not sure which this is

No matter which soldier this might be, let's pause to remember today. 

Champion in the house!

This is Ryan scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 9th with 2 out to win the league championship!

This is Ryan at the bottom of the pile of his teammates.  He fulfilled a dream tonight and I'm the one who can't sleep........

UPDATE:  Great article in the Oneonta paper:  click here

Look Out Erie PA!

Amy is now an employed person!  She is an educator at the Erie Zoo and started work today, just 3 days after graduation!  It's seasonal but full time and we had all of 5 days to find her an apartment and get her moved--and one of those days was spent in Kutztown at graduation!  But we did it, thanks to her very nice landlord and two 5 hour round trips between here and very western PA.  Her new address is 709 E 24th St Apt 2 Erie PA 16503.

The newest Dalpiaz family Kutztown alumni and her parents

At the same time, Ryan had his prom (he cleans up pretty good!) and won a baseball divisional title!

This is in case you were wondering why I'd fallen a bit behind in blogging.........

Happy Birthday Brandon!

Here's a classic image for you.  Yes, that is your Uncle James' hand in the corner of the picture.  Can't say I recall the exact circumstances but I do remember you loved wearing those beads during that vacation!  James may have encouraged you.  Just maybe.  Happy Birthday!

And just for fun, here's a link to "Classic Images for Boomers"--take a little stroll down memory lane (except these are mostly not happy memories--but they are iconic).  Click and view!  It's in chronological order so if the first ones aren't familiar, keep scrolling down til you find one you recognize :)