Chapter 17. Linda Ferraro’s Siblings

“John Ullian and Linda Ferraro:  Roots and Legacy   www.Ullian.org   March 2018”

Summary

Linda was 1 of 12 children. By the end of 1920 Linda, her parents, and 5 of her siblings (Virginio, Giovanni [John], Narciso [Narcissus], Sebastiano [Gino], and Sereno) had come to the U.S. A sister (Ida/Aida) stayed in Italy as a widow (later re-married) with children. Three siblings (Lidia/Livia, Sabino, and Alfredo) died in Italy in the 1918 flu pandemic. A brother (Lino) died on his fifth day. A sister (Catterina) was stillborn. Those who came to the U.S. settled initially in Rockford IL. Sereno stayed in Rockford, Gino spent most of his adult life as a priest in Michigan, and Virginio, Giovanni [John], Linda, and Narciso [Narcissus] moved to Glencoe and Highland Park IL, areas where the Ullians also lived. Virginio and Narcissus, like their brother-in-law John Ullian, were gardeners in private homes in the northern Chicago suburbs.

Ferraro Family Photograph – 1913

The following family members are in the above photo.

Sebastiano [Gino] (1902-1976), Linda (with white scarf – 1895-1929), Francesco Giuseppe [Frank] (#1 – father – 1870-1926), Catterina [Catherine] Villanova (#2 – mother – 1871-1941), Ida/Aida (1898-1981), Lidia/Livia (1904-1918), Alfredo (#11 – standing on chair – 1910-1918), and Sabina (#10 – sitting on stool – 1906-1918). Photos of 3 of the siblings were added. The photo added in the upper left is Narciso [Narcissus] (1896-1976). The added photos of Virginio (1891-1963) and Giovanni [John] (1893-1959) show them seeming to stand on the far right. Giovanni [John] was already in the U.S. when the photo was taken. Three of Linda’s siblings were not alive when the photo was taken: Sereno had not yet been born, Lino died in 1900 when he was 5 days old, and according to Fr. Gino [Sebastiano] Ferraro, Catterina was stillborn. A note from Dennis Ferraro [Son of Sereno] to Fred Ferraro [Son of Narcissus] indicates that Catterina [Catherine, the mother] is holding a photo of “the three which they sent back to the old country.” It is not clear to us what “sent back to the old country” means in this context. [Note: Fr. Gino has written that there were 13 children in this family, but in that document he listed only 12 names. We have no other evidence of a 13^th child.]

Ferraro Family Photograph – 1913 – Writing on Back

The following is our best attempt at reading and translating the writing on the back of the photo.

Year: [1]913-2-3 [3 Feb 1913]

Memorial photograph of the family of Francesco Ferraro, son of Antonio,

Born in Breganze 1870.

Number 1. ____ Ferraro Francesco – big as an ox, who ____ ____ who suffers from

an incurable cardiac disease.

Number 2. Vilanova Catterina made a bride

Number 3. Virginio Ferraro first [born] of our parents

Number 4. Second son Ferraro Giovanni _______ ________ in America

Number 5. Ferraro Linda maid [or waitress] at the home of Cavalier Cristoferri Vicenza

Number 6. Ferraro Narciso valet [or manservant, or waiter] today of Count Angelo Valissarana

Number 7. Ferraro Ida ________ at the home of Antonio Vilanova Farra Vincentina

Number 8. Ferraro Gino seller of almonds. Sandrigo [a town in Vicenza]

Number 9. Ferraro Livia at my home

Number 10. Ferraro Sabina ________ [same indecipherable word as with Ida] with my sister Ida

Number 11. Ferraro Alfredo the last ________

At the bottom:

We salute [greet] also those who ____ see [this?]

Please deliver this present to my dear sister Ferraro Giovanna, wife of Antonio __________

Goodbye sister: I hope you are pleased to receive this

Our ______ was ________

Goodbye cousin ___ and ___ _____

Linda Ferraro was obviously from a large family – there were 12 children. Of her 11 siblings, 1 was stillborn, 1 died on his fifth day, 3 died in 1918 (presumably in the 1918 flu pandemic), 3 came to the U.S. before she did, 2 accompanied her on that trip, and 1 stayed behind in Italy (Ida/Aida, by then a widow with children).

Information for each of her siblings (except Catterina, who was stillborn) follows. The scans of church records of the siblings were provided through a contract with My Italian Family, LLC, and are accompanied by a translation of at least a section of the document.
 

Virginio Antonio Ferraro (1891 - 1965)

Virginio Antonio, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born on 15 Nov 1891 in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy. His first name is also seen as Virgino, Verginio, Vergino, and on the ship manifest as Ant. Virginio Feraro.

Record (above) and Research Notes (below) from My Italian Family, LLC

He was born at 5:30 a.m. Godfather: Marazzato Giovanni son of Antonio

Virginio arrived in New York on the S.S. La Savoie 21 Apr 1912 at the age of 21 years to stay with his brother Giovanni [John] in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.

Virginio Ferraro on the S.S. La Savoie Ship Manifest – first page [From Ancestry.com]

Virginio Ferraro on the S.S. La Savoie Ship Manifest – second page [From Ancestry.com]

Virginio married Carlotta Buson on 18 Aug 1919 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. She had been born on 3 May 1900 in Albettone, Vicenza, Italy, and arrived in New York on 17 July 1919. Virginio and Carlotta had 2 daughters. Norma was born on 10 Jul 1922 in Braeside, a neighborhood in Highland Park IL. Florence was born on 8 Jul 1927 in Glencoe IL. Virginio was at that time a foundry worker in Glencoe.

On Virginio’s Petition for Naturalization, dated 26 Feb 1929, he stated that he had declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen on 29 Jan 1927 at the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago. His Petition indicated that he lived at 383 Adams St., Glencoe IL. He stated that he had lived in the U.S. since 21 Apr 1912, in Illinois since 23 Apr 1912. His occupation was moulder.

Virginio Ferraro’s Petition for Naturalization

In the 1930 Federal Census Virginio [listed as “Ant. Virginio Feraro”] was enumerated on 1 May 1930 as a married man with his wife “Caroline” [Carlotta] and daughters Norma and Florence. Virginio was working as a gardener at private homes.

In the 1940 Federal Census Carlotta was listed on 23 Apr 1940 as divorced and head of the household with two daughters, Norma and Florence, at 383 Adams Ave. in Glencoe. Virginio was listed as divorced and a lodger, in the same residence.

On Carlotta’s Declaration of Intention on 29 Aug 1940 she was living at 383 Adams St., Chicago IL. [This should be Glencoe IL.] She was a 40-year-old divorced housewife who was born in Albettone, Vicenza, Italy, and had come to the U.S. for permanent residence. She arrived in New York on 17 Jul 1919 on the S.S. Pesaro from Genoa, Italy.

Other than the above 2 sources, both from 1940, we have found no other evidence of a divorce. Since their obituaries mention them as “beloved husband” and “beloved wife” of the other, and their names are together on a tombstone, we must wonder about the accuracy of the claim of divorce – or at least about the longevity of the divorce.

His brother Fr. Gino Ferraro has written (in a letter to Mrs. Alfred Ferraro in about 1974) that Virginio worked in foundries for 40 years, when young won first prize for being the best dancer in Rockford, and never learned to drive a car but loved his bicycle.

Carlotta (Buson) Ferraro’s Declaration of Intention [From Ancestry.com]

Carlotta (Buson) Ferraro’s Oath of Allegiance [From Ancestry.com]

Mary (Wife of Narcissus), Carlotta, and Virginio Ferraro

Virginio died 6 Aug 1965 and is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northbrook IL. His obituary (below) was in the 8 Aug 1965 Chicago Tribune. [Viewed at Newspapers.com].

“Verginio A. Ferraro of 383 Adams St., Glencoe, beloved husband of Carlotta; father of Mrs. Norma Rogan of Glencoe and Mrs. Florence Levernier of Highland Park; brother of Narcissus, Rev. Father Gino, and Sereno Ferraro; three grandchildren. Resting at Robert V. Wilson Chapel, Linden Avenue at Tower Road, Winnetka. Funeral mass Monday, Aug. 9, 9:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Church, Winnetka. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery. HI 6-3436.”

Carlotta outlived Virginio by more than 32 years, living to the age of 97. Her obituary (below) was in the 3 Jan 1998 Chicago Tribune. [Viewed at Newspapers.com].

"Carlotta Ferraro, 97, of Glencoe, beloved wife of the late Verginio; loving mother of Norma (the late Edward) Rogan and Florence (Arthur) Levernier; dear grandmother of James, Dorothy and Robert; great-grandmother of Andrew, Adam, Kathryn, Samantha and Stephanie; great-great grandmother of Taylor. Visitation Sunday from 3-8 p.m. at Hanekamp Funeral Home, 385 Waukegan Rd. (1/2 mile N of Dundee Rd.), Northbrook. Family and friends to meet Monday at 9:45 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 905 Burr Rd., Winnetka, for 10 a.m. Funeral mass. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northbrook. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Hadley School for the Blind, 700 Elm St., Winnetka, IL 60093, would be appreciated. Funeral info 847-272-3890."

Virginio and Carlotta Ferraro’s Tombstone

Giovanni [John] Ferraro (1893 - 1959)

Giovanni [John] Ferraro, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born on 11 Aug 1893 in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy.

Record from My Italian Family, LLC

Giovanni [John] Ferraro left Genoa on 21 Apr 1910 and arrived in New York on 13 May 1910 on the SS Antonio Lopez. His last place of residence in Italy was Montecchio. He was the first of his siblings to come to the U.S.

John married Anna Comperini on 9 Oct 1915 in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois. They had 8 children: Frank Dominick, Emma, John A. (died of spasm of larynx), Ida, Leonora, John G. (died of broncho-pneumonia), Gildo, and Richard.

On his draft registration on 5 Jun 1917, his address was 1011 Sanford St., Rockford IL. He indicated that he had submitted his “first papers” [Declaration of Intent – to become a citizen]. He was born 11 Aug 1893 in Breganza [Breganze] Italy, and at the time of completing the draft registration was a machinist at John Barnes Co. on Water St. He was married, 5’9” tall, medium build, with dark hair and eyes. It noted that the little finger of his right hand had been amputated.

John Ferraro’s Draft Registration – 5 Jun 1917 [From Ancestry.com]

Giovanni Ferraro’s Petition for Naturalization, dated 25 Sep 1924, showed that he lived at 330 Adams Ave. in Glencoe. He was a laborer born on 11 Aug 1893 in Breganze, Italy. He had declared his intention to become a citizen on 24 Apr 1920 in the Circuit Court of Winnebago County, Rockford IL. His wife’s name was Annie. She was born 31 May 1899 in Austria. They had 2 children: Frank (born 28 Sep 1919) and Emma (born 9 Feb 1921). Both children were born in Rockford and were living with him in Rockford at the time of the Petition. That form also documented his change of name from Giovanni to John.

At their enumeration for the 1920 Federal Census, John and Anna lived at 1220 Green St., Rockford. John was a machinist at a drill company. They had 1 son, Frank, 3 months old.

In 1929 or early in 1930 John had moved his family from Rockford to Glencoe IL. At the time of the 1930 Federal Census, John and Anna lived at 330 Adams Ave., Glencoe. John was now a cement contractor. At the 1940 Federal Census, John and Anna still lived at 330 Adams Ave., Glencoe, and John was a cement finisher contractor.

John was still living at 330 Adams Ave. on 27 Apr 1942, when he completed his Second World War draft registration card. He worked for John Griffiths & Son Construction Co. of Chicago, working at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. John was evidently one of the many workmen involved in preparing the expansion of Great Lakes Naval Training Station for its role in training Naval personnel (including John Ferraro’s nephew Gino Ullian) for their Second World War service.

John Ferraro’s World War II Draft Registration – 27 Apr 1942 [From Ancestry.com]

On 10 Nov 1959 in what he called the FERRARO FAMILY BULLETIN, John Ferraro’s brother Rev. Fr. Gino Ferraro wrote [as copied here] the following about John Ferraro.

“…. John raised a splendid family. His six children are a credit to the community they live [sic]. John never denied his Catholic Faith and he never abandoned Christ's True Church. All these factors speak in his favor. / John came to Rockford from Italy at the tender age of 16, he was a very happy youngster in those days when Rockford was still young. He sent for his parents and he paid for their transportation. He courtshipped a very beautiful young lady Anna Comperini whom he later married. He also bought a beautiful home 1020 Green St., Rfd, Ill. The people around him were all immigrants like himself and they loved him and they looked upon him as a leader. Sundays John occupied a pew in St. Anthony's Church which he helped to build. / In 1923 John brought his family to Glencoe, Ill. He began to work seven days a week and like many of his contemporaries who had a materialistic concept of life, he wanted to get rich quick. John never got rich. Still he did not go to heaven EMPTY-HANDED NEITHER. His GOOD WORKS OF HIS YOUTH ACCOMPANIED HIM. May he rest in peace.”

John Ferraro in Band Uniform John Ferraro – April 1954

Leonora, daughter of John and Anna, has told Linda Wysocki the following. Her father was a sheepherder in Italy, along with his brother Virginio. He loved the opera. He played the tuba in the school band. He also loved to talk politics. He was a stone mason and spoke good English. He died of kidney disease. Anna Comperini was from a wealthy family in Italy. Her father sent his sons to the United States to avoid the draft in Italy.

John Ferraro – Stone Mason.

John died on 27 Oct 1959. He is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Northbrook IL.

John Ferraro’s Tombstone

Anna (Comperini) Ferraro died about 1 Apr 1980 of a heart attack. Her obituary (below) is from the 2 Apr 1980 Chicago Tribune [Viewed at Newsbank.com].

“Anna Ferraro, beloved mother of Frank (Alice), Emma (Ernest) Semler, Ida (Orlando) DeRose, Leonora Ferraro, Gildo (Barbara) and Richard (Kathy); grandmother of 11; great-grandmother of seven; and sister of Michael Comperini. Funeral Thursday, 9 a.m., from the Maloney Funeral Home, 895 Linden Ave., Winnetka, to Sacred Heart Church for blessing at 9:30 a.m. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. 441-7020.”

In writing that John and Anna had 6 children, Fr. Gino evidently was not including their sons John A. and John C., who both died very young.

John A. and John G. Ferraro’s Tombstone

(Two Sons of John and Anna Ferraro)

Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northbrook IL

Narciso [Narcissus] Ferraro (1896 - 1976)

Narciso, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy on 9 Oct 1896.

Record (above) and Research Notes (below) from My Italian Family, LLC

He was born at 8 p.m. He was baptized at home by the priest because they feared for his life. Godmother: Lucia Maria Mascarello wife of Giovanni Berton. The blessing was performed in the church on November 2 of that same year.

His name in the church record was Narciso, but he was known in the U.S. as Narcissus and Narcissus Dioniso.

Narcissus arrived at the age of 23 in New York on 2 Jul 1920, having sailed from Southampton, England, on the S.S. Olympic, according to the ship manifest. He was 5’4” tall, with dark hair and eyes. He was single, and his occupation was listed as waiter. His nearest relative in Italy was his father, G. Ferraro, in Citadell [Cittadella, in the province of Padua]. He was going to join his brother Virginio, 841 Shelto [street unknown to us], Chicago, Illinois. Final destination: Chicago. He paid for his own passage. He was listed in the manifest’s Record of Detained Aliens; cause: no telephone number. He was released by rail to his brother Virginio, 841 State St.

His brother Fr. Gino Ferraro has written in a letter to Mrs. Alfred Ferraro in about 1974 that Narcissus served in the Italian Army and came to the U.S. in 1919.

Narcissus married Mary S. Maddalon in about 1927. They had 2 sons, first Fred Francis Ferraro, then Encio Norbert Ferraro.

At the 1930 Federal Census, Narcissus and Mary lived at 750 Glencoe Rd., Glencoe IL, along with their son Fred and 5 lodgers. Narcissus was a gardener for a private family.

At the 1940 Federal Census, Narcissus and Mary lived at 238 First St., Highland Park IL, with their sons Fred and Norbert. Narcissus was a gardener at a private house.

The draft registration card completed by Narcissus on 27 Apr 1942 showed that he was born 9 Oct 1896 in Breganze, Italy. He was a 45-year-old self-employed gardener who lived (as did his wife Mary) at 238 N. First St. in Highland Park IL

Narcissus Ferraro’s World War II Draft Registration – 27 Apr 1942 [From Ancestry.com]

Narcissus and his wife Mary sailed on the S.S. Independence from New York City on 11 Dec 1954 for a 3 month visit to Italy, according to the ship’s manifest.

His obituary in the Highland Park News on 14 Oct 1976 provided the following information:

"Narcissus Ferraro, 79, of 688 Homewood Av., Highland Park, died Oct. 7 in Highland Park Hospital. He was the retired owner of a landscaping business. / Mr. Ferraro was born in Italy Oct. 9, 1896, and had been a resident of Highland Park 43 years. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church. / Survivors are his wife, Mary; his sons, Encio Norbert of Highland Park and Fred of Dallas, Tex.; four grandchildren; and his sister, Ida Ferraro of Italy. / The funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 9 in Immaculate Conception Church. The burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northfield. " [The Cemetery is actually in Northbrook.]

Narcissus Ferraro’s Tombstone

Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northbrook IL

Mary Ferraro’s Tombstone

Sacred Heart Cemetery, Northbrook IL

The death of Narcissus’s wife Mary on 13 May 1992 was noted in the Chicago Tribune on 15 May 1992. [Viewed at Newspapers.com]

"Mary S. Ferraro, 86, a resident of Highland Park for more than 60 years, died Wednesday in Highland Park Hospital. Mrs. Ferraro was an active member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Highland Park. She is survived by two sons, Fred F. and Encio Norbert; two sisters, Nora Maddalon and Lucille DalPonte; one brother, Angelo Maddalon; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday in Immaculate Conception Parish, 1590 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park."

Mary’s death was also noted in an obituary of her home-town newspaper, the Highland Park News on 21 May 1992.

“Mary S. Ferraro / Long-time Highland Park resident Mary S. Ferraro, 86, died May 13 at Highland Park Hospital / Mrs. Ferraro was born March 29, 1906, in Troy, Ill. / Survivors include two sons, Fred F. Ferraro of Dallas, Texas, and Encio Norbert of Highland Park; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Nora Maddalon of Highland Park and Lucille Dal Ponte of Libertyville; and one brother, Angelo Maddalon of Highland Park. She was preceded in death by her husband, Narissus [sic] Ferraro, one brother, Albert Maddalon, and one sister Giovanna Piazza. / Funeral Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated May 15 at Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park. Interment was at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Northbrook.”

Anna, Narcissus, John, and Mary Ferraro

Ida/Aida Lucia Ferraro (1898 - 1981)

Ida/Aida Lucia, daughter of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy, on 14 Mar 1898.

Record (above) and Research Notes (below) from My Italian Family, LLC

She was born at 10 p.m. Godfather: Francesco Salbego son of the late Marco domiciled in Salcedo and Godmother was Antonia Lucchini Breganze.

Ida Ferraro married Giuseppe Dal Dosso on 23 Feb 1914 in Salcedo, Italy. He died shortly after World War I. On 28 Mar 1936 she was married to Giuseppe Dal Ponte in Salcedo.

Ida and Giuseppe Dal Dosso had four children: Angelo, Felice, John, and Ursulina.

Ida/Aida Ferraro’s Columbarium Marker in Salcedo Cemetery

[Translation: Born 14 Mar 1898, Died 5 Mar 1981. Dal Dosso Children and Grandchildren]

Columbarium where Ida’s Niche is Located.

Sebastiano Borgia [Gino] Ferraro (1902 - 1976)

Sebastiano Borgio [Gino] Ferraro, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born on 28 Feb 1902 in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy.

Record (above) and Research Notes (below) from My Italian Family, LLC

He was born at 5 p.m. Godfather was Lorenzo Leverda son of the late Giovanni from this parish and Godmother was Orsola Capozzo wife of Antonio Villanova domiciled in Salcedo.

Sebastiano/Sebastino [who was always known as Gino in the U.S.] arrived in the New York on 1 Nov 1920 from Genova [Genoa] on the S.S. Regina d’Italia with his father Francesco, mother Catterina Villanova, sister Linda, and brother Sereno. They were to stay with his brother Virginio Ferraro at 841 Shelto [street name unknown to us], Rockford IL.

Gino was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest on 14 Jun 1930 at St. James Cathedral in Rockford IL. The majority of his life was spent performing his priestly duties in parishes in Michigan. Fr. Gino, as he was best known, was also very interested in his family, writing several issues of the “Ferraro Family Bulletin” to pass along information on his Ferraro family. The contents of the 3 issues we have are provided in Appendix E. He also followed up on information he had received on Ferraros in Brazil, and that information is in Appendix F.

Article on the Ordination of Fr. Gino Ferraro

Belvidere Daily Republican [Belvidere IL] 12 Jun 1930

Fr. Gino Ferraro (and friend)

Fr. Gino Ferraro

Fr. Gino Ferraro’s Funeral Card

Fr. Gino Ferraro’s Tombstone, Nadeau Township Cemetery, Nadeau MI

When John A. Ullian and his family visited Fr. Gino at St. Bruno’s Church in Nadeau in about 1955, his housekeeper was Marie Rouse. His tombstone is adjacent to a Rouse family tombstone, which leads us to wonder whether the Rouse family provided the grave for Fr. Gino’s burial.

Fr. Gino Ferraro’s Tombstone, next to Rouse Tombstone

Fr. Gino Ferraro’s Death Certificate

Sereno, Fr. Gino, Narcissus, and Virginio Ferraro

An excerpt from a letter from the Secretary at St. Bruno’s Church in response to a request by Linda Wysocki for information about Fr. Gino at St. Bruno’s follows.

“Dear Linda,

…

I had a copy made of a booklet made by Fr. Gino celebrating our Diamond Jubilee in 1955. Also a few pages copied from our centennial book of 1987.

Although I was a young girl of only 9 yrs. when Fr. Gino left St. Bruno’s – I have very fond memories of him. I grew up in a family of 10 children and my father worked out of town and was only home on weekends. Fr. Gino would pick us children up and take us to religious classes and then back home again. My mother didn’t drive. I also remember trying to hide in the pew during some of Fr. Gino’s “fire and brimstone” sermons as his parishioners referred to them as. Parishioners still remember how he had his Italian wine at meetings and dinners. He was greatly loved by St. Bruno’s Parish Family and still remembered for pinching lovingly the children’s cheeks!”

Information about Fr. Gino Ferraro in a Publication from

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Iron Mountain MI

Lino Felice Ferraro (1900 - 1900)

Lino Felice, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro was born on 11 Mar 1900 and died on 15 Mar 1900 in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy.

Record from My Italian Family, LLC

Lidia/Livia Ferraro (1904 - 1918)

Lidia Ferraro, daughter of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born in San Giorgio di Perlena, Vicenza, Italy, on 28 May 1904.

Record (above) and Research Notes (below) from My Italian Family, LLC

She was born at 10 a.m. Godfather was Gio Battista Berton son of Antonio from this parish.

It is said that Lidia died in 1918 in Italy during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Sabina Ferraro (1906 - 1918)

Sabina Ferraro, daughter of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born in Italy in 1906.

Research Notes from My Italian Family, LLC:

"We can confirm that the three children (Sabina, Alfredo and Sereno) of Francesco Giuseppe Ferraro and Catterina Villanova were not born in Breganze. We believe they were born in another town after migrating from San Giorgio di Perlena between 1903 and 1906.”

"Since Walter [the researcher] was not far from the town of Fara Vicentino (which covers the hamlet of San Giorgio di Perlena) he stopped by the town hall to try to uncover additional information such as birth registrations, side notations listing where they migrated to. However, the municipal archives of Fara Vicentino were devastated by a fire back in 1922; after the accident, the town hall officials went door to door to try and recreate the “anagrafe” i.e. census of the town. Unfortunately the Ferraro family had already migrated away in 1921 and no information was available on them.”

Alfredo Ferraro (1910 - 1918)

Alfredo Ferraro, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro was born in Italy in 1910. It is said that Alfredo died in 1918 in Italy during the 1918 flu pandemic. [See Research Notes from My Italian Family above for information on his place of birth.]

Sereno Ferraro (1913 - 1970)

Sereno, son of Francesco and Catterina Ferraro, was born in Italy on 13 Dec 1913. [See Research Notes from My Italian Family above – under Sabina Ferraro – for information on his birthplace.]

Sereno arrived in the New York on 1 Nov 1920 from Genova [Genoa] on the S.S. Regina d’Italia with his parents, sister Linda, and brother Sebastiano [Gino]. They were to stay with brother Virginio Ferraro at 841 Shelto [street name unknown to us], Rockford, Illinois.

Sereno is listed on the 1930 Federal Census as living with his mother Catherine at 1220 Green St., Rockford IL. He married Mary Fedeli, daughter of Andrew and Rose Fedeli, in about 1934 in Winnebago County, Illinois. At the 1940 Federal Census he was married with two children and lived at 1034 W. Jefferson St. in Rockford.

Sereno and Mary had 5 children: Dennis, Dorothy, Mary Kay, Carolyn, and Nancy. According to his brother Fr. Gino Ferraro, Sereno became a hydraulic engineer and later an executive at Sundstrand Company [refrigeration on semi-trucks and trailers] in Rockford, and that 2,000 people attended his funeral. He died on 25 Nov 1970 in Rockford, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, 8616 W. State Rd., Winnebago, IL. [Winnebago is just west of Rockford.]

Sereno Ferraro in overcoat is fourth from left, Emma Ferraro in background,

Virginio Ferraro in white shirt, unknown woman,

Carlotta Ferraro and her daughter Florence Ferraro

Chapter Headings and Appendices