Cousin Dominic A. Gallo

With a family the size of ours', there are many cousins, in addition, our family has several who have served their country over the years.  We have family which served in World War I and II.  Our own Mike Lamonica was a member of the Royal Italian Army.

One of those military family members was Dominic A. Gallo, son of Vito Gallo and Grace Lamonica Gallo.  Like many of our family members, Dominic was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio.  He worked in the local steel mills and then spent time serving our country.  The photo included in this blog is from Mirecourt, France.  A note from the Weirton Steel newsletter states that he was a Captain in the Army serving with the Signal Corps.  Later in life, Dominic moved to California with other Gallo family.  He died in 2001in Upland, California.

Great Grand Mother Mary Iaquiele and Great-Great Antonetta Colabello Iaquiele

Pictured in this photograph are Mary Michele Iaquiele Lamonica to the right and her mother Antonetta Colabello Iaquiele.  The photo was taken in Forenza, Italy on March 13, 1931.  Iaquiele returned to Italy to visit her family several times.  By this time, Iaquiele was into her 50s with three grown children.  Both are dress in tradition dark dress of the times.  I do not have much information on my great-great grandmother.  I do know she was married to Biaggio Iaquiele and they had at least one child.

Wedding Day

As most of you know I lost my mom this past summer and I think of her often.  I ran across this photo from her wedding day from November 14, 1959.  In the photo are Christina Lamonica Ciccolella, Mike Ciccolella, Maria "Gigi" Ciccolella Bennett and Sandy Ciccolella Burd.  Gigi was 18 at the time, her father had past away two years earlier.  She married my father Chuck Bennett Sr. and the couple had two children together.  Anyway, its great to find photos such as these from significant days in family history.  Maybe not so important to the rest of the world, but for our family this was a pretty good day.  God Bless marriages!!!

Cemetery Find

When I traveled to Italy this past summer I made a friend in the city of Pettorano sul Gizio.  This is the city my grandfather John Ciccolella was born.  He had two brothers and a sister.  Recently, my friend sent me a photo from the local cemetery.  The photo is the head stone of Maria Ciccolella and her husband. 

Maria is the brother of John, Joseph and Andrew Ciccolella.  While John and Joe came to America, had families and are burried in Follansbee, West Virginia, Maria and Andrew stayed in Italy.

Up to now, I only knew that she married a Lanica.  Well, through the power of the internet, I received additional information.  Maria married Panfilo Lancia, and though it is tough to see, we also now have a photo of both.  We can also see that Panfilo was born on March 1, 1882.  The flowers in the photo block some of the rest of the information, however, this is a great find.  We can also find something about their daughter Gina Lanica.  Again, thanks to all who help make family history fun!!!

Garibaldi Club

A very important part of the Italian life was spending time with other family members and friends.  It was quite common for immigrants to join together in their US communities.

The photo attached to this update dates back to 1954 and includes a group of men from the Follansbee, West Virginia Garibaldi Club.

Kneeling in the middle is my grandfather John "Chico" Ciccolella.  He spent many days with his friends at the club.  He also performed music at many special events.  The Ciccolella's were active in the organization with John's wife Christina serving as president of the Sisters of the Garibaldi on several occasions.

That's Entertainment

In the late 1920's and early 1930's Christina Lamonica was very active in several activities including participating in a local production of Carmen.  Here she poses in costume for the muscial.  This photo was taken about 1931 in Steubenville, Ohio. In March, 1934 she co-directed the play "Little Nell" for the Yerne Girls Society. 

Iaquiele

This is a photo of my great grandmother Mary Michelle Iaquiele.  She was born December 6, 1879 to Biaggio Iaquiele and Antonetta Colabello in Potenza, Italy.  On May 5, 1900 she married Michele Archangelo Lamonaca (Mike Lamonica).

The couple had three children - Grace Lamonica, Dan Lamonica and Christina Lamonica.

This photo was taken in Steubenville, Ohio sometime in the 1910s or 1920s.