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 San Pietro Avellana

Descendents of Ambrozio diSanza (1822) and Maria Gatti (1819)

This Page last updated on .

I'm related to this family only by marriage. Many of them ended up in Western Pennsylvania, mostly Homewood, PA. Dave DeSanzo ( railoneadelphia.net ) and Wilberta Illig ( BertaIlligaol.com  ) are connected to this family.

Ambrozio diSanza

Ambrozio diSanza was sindaco of San Pietro Avellana from 1877 to 1878.
From Anna Gloria Carlini, Jan 2006, written to Dave DeSanzo:
"I have conducted some research to go back to the sources of our family. The father of your grandfather Luigi was Giuseppe Di Sanza, named "Peppe d' Ambrosio" ; it  means  "Ambrogio' s son" ("Peppe" is the short name of Giuseppe). Ambrogio Di Sanza was syndic (head of the municipal administration of San Pietro Avellana) in the years 1877-1878. Di Sanza people lived in San Pietro Avellana already XVIII century, as well as proves a memorial tablet placed on an ancient fountain. In ancient times the surnames formed with "Di" or "De" or "Da" showed where the people coming from or the father's name (for example DE ROMA, DIGIOVANNI, DA MILANO).
In southern Italy there is a village named SANZA (near Naples) but there isn't  any evidence that Di Sanza family was coming from the village of SANZA.
During the last medieval centuries and the first centuries of the modern age, Spanish governed Southern Italy, and still in local language there are many spanish words; but, I never heard that Di Sanza family comes from Spain!"
Ambrozio diSanza and Maria Gatti had two sons that I've found so far: Francesco Paolo and Giuseppe.

Francesco Paolo "Frank" diSanza

Francesco Paolo "Frank" was born on 24 Jan 1856. He married Florinda Immaculata "Florina" Frazzini on 2 Jul 1888 in Pittsburgh, PA. Florina is my third cousin three times removed.
Info from Wilberta Illig, Jul 2005. She wrote:
"This is the same couple Frank and Florina (Frazzini) DeSanzo who lived in Beaver County, PA but married in Pgh. Neither are related to me -- their daughter Bertha married into my family. I want to go to the courthouse next week and do some searching so will look at that 1888 marriage record. They didn't start  recording the names of the parents of the bride and groom until 1915, but the  record should say she was married before and give a death date of her first  husband.  Florina's son 'Frank Trill' named his first child Loreto (same as  his father). Florina and Frank DeSanzo named their first son, Ambrose, so  it looks like the Nati you found for Frank diSanza is right by naming patterns."

Info from Dave DeSanzo, Jan 2006. He wrote:
"Francesco Paolo diSanza and Florinda Immaculata "Florina' Frazzino was my GF Luigi's aunt and uncle. Frank and Florina lived in Homewood, PA. My GF Luigi lived with them in Homewood when he came to America in 1904. I found Frank and Florinda in the 1910 and 1920 Census records for Homewood. The 1910 Census records list my GF Luigi as a nephew living with them. Luigi was married in 1917 so the 1920 Census does not have Luigi listed as living with them. Florina died in 1922. I have a copy of Florina's obituary dated 10/19/22 from the Beaver Falls Tribune.
The 1930 Homewood Census is a little more interesting. The 1930 Census shows Frank living with the "Frank Trill"  family and is listed as Step Father."
Info from Wilberta Illig, Jul 2005 : Frank DeSanzo (diSanza) - Naturalization is in the Beaver County, PA  website. 1900 Census gives birth date as Jan 1857.  Naturalization papers say he arrived in 1881 from Italy, born 1856.

Wilberta Illig sent me the following census summaries:
DESANZO, FRANK D   (1900 U.S. Census)
PENNSYLVANIA , BEAVER,  4-WD ROCHESTER
Age: 43, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: ITAL
Series: T623 Roll:  1375 Page: 264 - NOTE: family continued on next page, too.
 
DESANZO, FRANK   (1910 U.S. Census)
PENNSYLVANIA , BEAVER,  BIG BEAVER TWP
Age: 52, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: ITAL
Series: T624 Roll:  1310 Page: 182
 
DERANZO, FRANK   (1920 U.S. Census)
PENNSYLVANIA , BEAVER,  HOMEWOOD
Age: 62, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: ITAL
Series: T625 Roll: 1531  Page: 220
Wilberta Illig wrote to Dave DeSanzo::
"My grandfather was Orazio Mariani born in SPA in 1874. He came to the  US in 1889 with his brother Belisario and first lived in  Hoytdale. His brother Belisario married Angela Labate. Both brothers went out West then returned in 1906 and settled in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh and operated grocery stores butcher shops. Their sister, Florina Mariani married Giuseppe Buzzelli and had three sons. Their three sons lived in Ellwood City and  their descendants still live there.  Florina and Giuseppe's youngest son Oriente Buzzelli married Bertha deSanzo. Bertha was the daughter of Frank deSanzo and Florina Frazzini. I think this Frank deSanzo was a brother to your great-grandfather Giuseppe. You said you were related  to Frazzini somehow and that is probably where you connect to  them.  I had found a Luigi diSanza in the Ellis Island passenger lists  going to his 'uncle Francesco' in Rochester, PA and then found this same Luigi living with the Frank DeSanzo family in the 1910 Census in Big  Beaver. I also have a 'Lewis' DeSanzo from the 1920 Census with wife Christiana and son Joseph. Mark DiVecchio found Frank DeSanzo's (Francesco Paolo diSanza) birth record for me and has that info in his gedcom on his  website."
Dave wrote:
"Immaculata "Florina' Frazzino was my GF Luigi's aunt and uncle. Frank and Florina lived in Homewood, PA.  My GF Luigi lived with them in Homewood whenever he came to America in 1904.  I found Frank and Florinda in the 1910 and 1920 Census records for Homewood. The 1910 Census records list my GF Luigi as a nephew living with them. Luigi was married in 1917 so the 1920 Census does not have Luigi listed as living with them.  Florina died in 1926.  I have a copy of Florina's obituary dated 10/19/22 from the Beaver Falls Tribune. 

The 1930 Homewood Census is a little more interesting. The 1930 Census shows Frank living with the "Frank Trill"  family and is listed as Step Father."

Giuseppe diSanza

Giuseppe diSanza was born about 1852. He married Santa Labate. Giuseppe did not immigrate to the US.
Info from Dave DeSanzo, Jan 2006 :
"My Great Grandfather Giuseppe Di Sanza was the "Keeper of the Forest" as they referred to them back then in San Pietro Avellana. He married Santa LaBate who was my Great Grandmother."
Dave wrote in Jan 2006 :
"There is another little twist to the story that draws me to your Internet site. As you know my Great Grandmother was Santa LaBate.  To date we know nothing about her and her immediate family. However, my mothers sister Helen Sobeski married Michael LaBate thus Michael and Helen were my aunt and uncle. They lived in Ellwood City, PA. We visited them at least once a week when we were children and were very close to them. Please see LaBate family tree Michael & Helen (Sobeski) LaBate 1930.  Thus I have interest in the LaBate family from two completely separate family members. My mother told me that my Uncle Mike LaBate had a wooded leg. My Aunt Helen did not know he had a wooded leg until after they were married. You can imagine what a shock that must have been. My mother also remembers that Uncle Mike LaBate lost his leg in a railroad accident out west when he was a young man. After looking at your Internet site, I wonder if Uncle Mike LaBate was staying with the LaBates from Ely, NV and that the accident that took his leg occurred on the Nevada Northern Railroad?"
Giuseppe diSanza
From Dave DeSanzo, Feb 2006

"This picture were taken in SPA about 1926 and mailed to my GF Luigi in Koppel, PA.
This is my GGF Giuseppe di Sanza."
Santa LaBate
From Dave DeSanzo, Feb 2006

"This picture were taken in SPA about 1926 and mailed to my GF Luigi in Koppel, PA.
This is my GGM Santa LaBate di Sanza wife of Giuseppe."
They had at least 7 children, two of whom immigrated to the US.
(1) Bernardo 1880-1974 - He is in the family photo below.
(2) Giovanni Stefano "John" - 28 Dec 1882 - he is in the SPA militia photo - Info from Dave DeSanzo, Jan 2006, Giovanni is Dave's grand uncle: "Giovanni and Luigi were the only two children in the family that stayed in America. My cousin Della, Giovanni's daughter, told me that her father returned to Italy to get married and while he was there he was drafted into WWI for Italy."

Here is a wedding photo of Giovanni and his wife Marietta Carlini. We believe that Giovanni is person #4 in the SPA Militia photo.
(3) Lucia (Lucietta) Beatrice 1884-1983
(4) Umberto 1893-1955 - He is in the family photo below.
(5) Luigi N. - 1889-1957 - Grandfather of Dave DeSanzo - Info from Dave DeSanzo, Jan 2006, "Giovanni and Luigi were the only two children in the family that stayed in America."


Frank De Sanzo with nephew Louis N. De Sanzo
1903 Rochester, PA

From Dave DeSanzo, Jan 2006:
"Attached is a picture of my Grandfather Luigi N. di Sanza. Luigi was from San Pietro Avellana and arrived at Ellis Island on April 29, 1903. Luigi was only 14 years old when he came to the USA. The writing on the back of the picture states "My dad with the cap on taken in Rochester, PA". Luigi is the young man standing on the right. The Ellis Island records lists Luigi's final destination as Rochester, PA. I am not able to clearly identify the name of the person Luigi was going to see from the ships manifest. It looks like it could be either Giovanni or Francesco."

From Dave DeSanzo, Jun 2006
Stella De Sanzo Leonardo did identify her grandfather Francesco Paolo "Frank" De Sanzo in the picture. Frank was married to Florinda Frazzini.



Luigi diSanza
From Dave DeSanzo, Feb 2006

"I found this neat old picture in my fathers photo album.  My GF Luigi is standing in the middle.  Judging by his age, the photo appears to be taken in
1904.  I do not know who the other two gentlemen are in the picture nor do I know where it was taken."

email from Sally Burge, Sep 2010

I believe that I can identify one of your pictures.  The building  where 3 men are standing on the stoop at the corner is where "Uncle 
Bill and Aunt Alley" DeSanzo lived in Homewood, PA.  They lived in the  apartment upstairs.  It once had a pool hall in the end of the 
building where the men are standing.  The other end of the building  was the US Post Office probably from before I was born and lived 
across the street from that property.


From Dave DeSanzo, May 2006

"Wedding picture of Luigi di Sanza (De Sanzo) and Cristine Barile taken abt. 1917 in Koppel, PA.  Karen Bishop, granddaughter of Giorlanda "Jessie" Di Sanzo,  was able to identify everyone in the photo:

Mary Assini, Giorlanda "Jessie" Di Sanzo, Antoinette Di Sanzo, Luigi DeSanzo,
Cristine Barile, Carmella "Carmel" Barile, Anthony Di Sanza, Liberata "Lil" Di Sanzo" "   


From Dave DeSanzo, Jun 2006

"I have attached a new wedding picture of Luigi di Sanza and Cristine Barile. This wedding picture contains an entire  second row with twelve additional people in it.  We are calling this the "Luigi De Sanzo “Lost Wedding Picture” - 1917" since no one knew it even existed.  My cousin Karen Bishop found this in the Di Sanzo picture album in Freedom, PA.  With the help of Jeanne Mangerie Dougherty, we have been able to identify six of the twelve new people in the photograph. "

Front Row (left to right)

1.    Mary Assini
2.    Giorlanda “Jessie” Di Sanzo
3.    Antoinette Di Sanzo
4.    Luigi De Sanzo (groom)
5.    Cristine Barile (bride)
6.    Carmella “Carmel” Barile (Cristine’s sister)
7.    Anthony Di Sanzo
8.    Liberata “Lil” Di Sanzo

Second Row (left to right)

1.    Unknown female (hiding)
2.    Unknown female
3.    Unknown female
4.    Anna Barile (Cristine’s sister)
5.    Ruby Barile Pietrandrea (Cristine’s sister)
6.    Patsy Pietrandrea (baby)
7.    Paul Pietrandrea
8.    Salvatore “Sam” Pietrandrea
9.    Peter Pietrandrea
10.    Unknown male
11.    Unknown male (little boy with face partially hidden)
12.    Unknown male
Giuseppe diSanza and Sons
From Dave DeSanzo, Feb 2006

"This picture was taken in SPA about 1926 and mailed to my GF Luigi in Koppel, PA.
This is my GGF Giuseppe di Sanza with his four sons who remained in Italy.  From left to
right they are Bernardo, Gennaro, GGF Giuseppe, Umberto and Manfredo."
(6) Gennaro 1896-1965 - He is in the family photo above.
(7) Giuseppe Manfredo Gabriele 1899-1965 - He is the great grandfather of Anna Gloria Carlini. He did not immigrate to the US. We believe that Manfredo is person #13 in the SPA Militia photo. He is in the family photo above.
Armando diSanza (DeSanzo) and Louis P. DeSanzo
circa 1927  Koppel, PA
In Feb of 2006, Dave DeSanzo wrote:
"I had Della DeSanzo look at the SPA militia picture over the weekend. Della did identify person #21 in the picture as Armando (Herman) diSanza.  Armando's father was Bernardo diSanza who was the oldest child of Giuseppe diSanza and Santa LaBate. Armando lived with Giovanni De Sanzo and his family in Koppel, PA.  The 1930 census for Koppel, PA states that Armando immigrated to the USA in 1927. Armando worked at the Koppel Industrial Car & Equipment Company as a laborer.  Armando was hit in the shoulder while working at the Koppel Car Works and died from complications from his injuries in 1932.  Armando is buried at an old, abandoned, Catholic cemetery in nearby Hoytdale, PA. 

I have attached the 1930 census record for Koppel, PA for your review. Armando is incorrectly listed as Giovanni's brother. Armando was really Giovanni's nephew.  I have also attached a picture of Armando taken in front of the home of Luigi De Sanzo in Koppel, PA.  Armando is posing with my father Louis who was born in 1922.  There is no date on the picture but judging by the size of my father, I would estimate that it was taken around 1927 the same year that Armando arrived in Koppel."

Homewood, PA and Freedom, PA

This was sent to me by Dave DeSanzo:

"Homewood is located in Beaver County between Koppel and Beaver Falls on Route 18. The old Route 18 was called the New Castle and Beaver Falls Road. Exit #2 (Beaver Valley) of the PA Turnpike is in Homewood. Homewood is 1-mile south of Koppel and 3-miles north of Beaver Falls. Homewood is an old railroad town where two major lines of the old PRR intersected. Homewood (Beaver County) is often confused with the Homewood (Allegheny County) section of Pittsburgh. The US Postal service eventually changed the name of the town from Homewood to "Racine" for mailing purposes. Elaine diSanza, married name Buzzelli, was the postmaster in Racine for many years."

and this:

There were two Di Sanzo families from Freedom.  The Koppel and Homewood di Sanza'a went by the last name De Sanzo and the Freedom di Sanza's went by the last name Di Sanzo.  Nobody knows why.  We are all related.  I have listed the two families from Freedom below.  To date, I have only been able to connect Dominick.  I am still trying to figure out how Anthony is related.  Anthony and Anna had a little penny candy store in the front of their home in Freedom, PA.  Antoinette, Lil, and Honey ran a much larger grocery store which was also located in Freedom, PA.  Dominick's father was Pasquale di Sanza.  Pasquale was the brother of my GGF Giuseppe di Sanza and my Great Uncle Frank De Sanzo that married Florinda Frazzini.

Freedom Family #1
Anthony (Antonio) Di Sanzo (Pictured in my grandparents wedding picture)
Anna di Giacomo
  Edward (son)
  Esther (daughter)
  Filomena (daughter)
  Antoinette (daughter)
  Frances (daughter)
  Eugene (son)
  Anthony (son)

Freedom Family #2
Dominick (Domenico Amico) Di Sanzo
Elizabeth Capone
  Giorlanda "Jessie" (Brides Maid in my grandparents wedding picture) 
  Antoinette (Little girl (3rd from left) pictured in my grandparents wedding picture)
  Liberata "Lil" (Little girl on the far right of my grandparents wedding picture)
  Mary
  Renaldi "Honey"

Other related photos


Anthony Fiourcci and Antoinette Di Sanzo

In May of 2006, Dave DeSanzo wrote:
"A wedding picture of Anthony Fiourcci and Antoinette Di Sanzo from Freedom, PA.  Domenic Frazzini is also in this photo.  He is obviously the best man. Antoinette's sister Lil is standing on the brides left side.  Lil appears to be the brides maid.  This photograph was sent to me by my cousin Karen Bishop."
Ersilia "Cecilia" Frazzini and Michele Labate
(about 1924)

  In May of 2006, Dave DeSanzo wrote:

"My cousin Karen Bishop sent me this wedding photo of Ersilia "Cecilia" Frazzini and Michele Labate.  Also in the picture are Sperry Rossi and Antoinette Di Sanzo.  I sent this picture to the Labate family.  They were obviously very excited.  As you know Cecilia died shortly after giving childbirth to their son Richard. "
Cecilia Frazzini

  In Jun of 2006, Dave DeSanzo wrote:
"Attached is a great photo of Cecilia Frazzini in her wedding dress.  It was sent to me from my cousin Karen Bishop."

Unknown People - diSanza's and Frazzini's - Youngstown or Koppel or Freedom ???

In June of 2006, Dave DeSanzo wrote:
"I received a lot of photos last week from my cousin Karen Bishop. I did not realize at the time how close the Di Sanzo and Frazzini families were.  It wasn't until I discovered that many of the old pictures from the Di Sanzo's in Freedom had pictures of Frazzini family members in them as well.  I thought I would send you all of the pictures that have unknown people in them.  Perhaps someone will recognize them."
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
From Dave DeSanzo, May 2006
"Wedding pictue of Dom & Maggie Frazzini sent by my cousin Karen.  Do you recognize anyone else in the photo?"
--
Mark's note: Are these the Domenic and Mary Frazzini that are on Frazzini Graphical Tree Part 2 ?
Joseph Raymond De Sanzo
Hi Mark,
My sister Christine was able to identify one of the "unknown" picture on your Internet site last week.  The little boy in this photograph is Joseph Raymond De Sanzo.  Joseph Raymond is the youngest son of Luigi Nunzio De Sanzo and Cristina Barile.  Joseph Raymond was born in Koppel, Pa on April 12, 1932 and died in 1997.  Joseph served as an Ellwood City, Pennsylvania Police Officer for most of his career.  His nickname was "Sonny".  Joseph was my father's youngest brother.                 
Dave
Unknown
Unknown
From Dave DeSanzo, May 2006:
"Another wedding picture from Karen with no name on the back.  Recognize anyone?"
Unknown
Unknown
From Dave DeSanzo, May 2006:
"The only person identified in this wedding is Antoinette Di Sanzo. Antoinette is the little girl on the left with the curly hair."

From Anthony Spataro, Jul 2010:
"I was looking at your website and I saw my grandparents wedding picture.  You don't have their names listed under the picture.  The picture does have Antoinette Di Sanzo listed as the little girl with the curly hair.  I attached the picture to this email.  I don't know who the man is that is standing behind my grandfather.  I'll ask my aunt to see if she knows.

Anyway, the picture is my grandfather (Bruno Spataro) and my grandmother (Mary Frazzini).  Hope this information helps."

For more about this family, look on this web page.
This site prepared and maintained by Mark DiVecchio

email :  markd@silogic.com
 
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