Maria Di Franco
Maria Di Franco was born in Sicilia, Italy 127 years ago in 1895 to her Father Giuseppe Di Franco and Mother, Guiseppa Testasecca.
••• Interestingly events that occurred around the World during Maria' birth year of 1895 included.
▪︎ On February 6th, 1895 all-time great Hall of Fame baseball player Babe Ruth is born in Baltimore, Maryland.
• On March 13th, 1895 200 former (s)laves leave Savannah, Georgia for the African country of Liberia. The American Colonization Society (ACS), assisted in efforts for former slaves to return to Africa. The ACS’ Quaker and Evangelical abolitionist founders established Liberia as a colony for freedmen.
• On August 19th, 1895 American frontier murderer and outlaw John Wesley Hardin is killed by an off-duty policeman while playing dice at the Acme Saloon in El Paso, Texas.
• On November 28th, 1895 historically the first ever American automobile race takes place in Chicago, Illinois and is sponsored by the Chicago Times-Herald.
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Rosalie "Rosalia" Canzoneri was born in Tampa. Florida more than 108 years ago on August 25th, 1923vto her Father Mateo Canzoneri and Mother, Maria Di Franco.
••• Interestingly events that occurred around the World during Rosalie "Rosalia"'s birth yearvof 1913 included.
▪︎ On March 4th, 1913 Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as the 28th President of the United States.
▪︎ On June 4th, 1913 English suffragette, Emily Davison who fought for votes for women in Britain is trampled and dies 4 days later after throwing herself in front of King George V's horse Anmer during the running of the Derby at Epsom in Surrey, England.
▪︎ On September 12th.1913 future
four time Gold Medalist @ the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany Jesse Owens is born in Oakville, Alabama.
▪︎ On December 30th, 1913 the Mona Lisa which was stolen on August 21st, 1911 is returned to France from Italy.
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It is unclear as to when and where Maria originally emigrated to America as there are few verifiable records tracing her journey. With that said, we find Ms.Di Franco applying for a marriage license in Tampa, Florida with her future Husband, fellow Sicily native, Mateo Canzoneri (20) via The Tampa Morning Tribune on October 4th, 1912 when she was either 16 or 17 years old. At the time, the young couple both worked in the cigar making field. They would welcome their only child, a Daughter Rosalie "Rosalia" on Monday August 25th, 1913 . The joyous event was however a temporary life highlight as we soon learn that Maria was infected with tuberculosis going as far back as the year 1910. The debilitating disease would in fact take her life on November 5th, 1915. She was only twenty.
Following the loss of her Mother, Rosalie's Father, Mateo married Sicily native, Biagina "Blanche" "Blanca" Mauricilino in Tampa, Florida on July 1st, 1919. The couple would grow the Canzoneri family by 3 during the 1920's. By 1930 Rosalie (17), her Stepmother. Biagina, and Father, Mateo were all employed as cigar makers.
From.this point on Rosalie "Rosalia's" life becomes shrouded in mystery and concludes in utter tragedy. We know not when, but sometime after 1930 she married Antonio Perdono in her hometown of Tampa but there is miniscule documentation of their union and time together. Just 9 days after having celebrated her 23rd birthday she would take her last breath on Wednesday September 9th, 1936 after experiencing complications from a miscarriage. Rosalie's death certificate reveals even further devastation as we discover that although only in her early 20's she was already a widow. We do not know what became of her fallen Husband, Antonio.
Marie Di Franco Canzoneri and Rosalie "Rosalia" Canzoneri Perdono... Beloved Mother, Daughter, American Dream ended too soon.