Arrival of the Albanese Family in America
The ship Berlin.
The forebear of the Albanese family in America was Giuseppe Albanese. Immigration records provide an invaluable resource of information about who he was, and also when and how he came to America. Giuseppe Albanese lived in the town of Mammola near Reggio di Calabria in southern Italy. At the still relatively young age of 17 he came to America. Back in Italy he left behind his father, as well as a woman who would later become his wife. Giuseppe Albanese departed Naples, Italy, aboard the ship Berlin on February 20, 1914, and arrived in New York on March 5, 1914. Immigration records also noted how Albanese was able to read and write.[i] His final destination was Minerville, New York,
596 Union Street in Brooklyn, New York
Upon arriving, Giuseppe had to wait for just over two years until his bride-to-be, Rosina Vitillo, crossed the sea herself and came to America to marry him. Rosina Vitillo, or “Rosa Vitillo” as she was called in immigration records,[ii] arrived on the Patria on September 16, 1916. Upon arriving she was shown to have lived with her cousin Raffaele Borilli at 596 Union Street in Brooklyn. This was two short blocks away from the church where she would later marry Giuseppe.[iii]
Giuseppe Albanese and Rosina Vitillo were married on October 15, 1916, at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn. This was an “Italian” church organized in 1901[iv] and served by Franciscan Fathers. In 1919 the church had about 8,000 parishioners.[v]
Our Lady of Peace, Brooklyn, New York
Following their marriage, Joseph and Rosa Albanese lived on 21st Street in Brooklyn. Later the family lived at 2382 East 5th Street in Brooklyn. Together they had seven children including Phyllis Albanese (1917-1994), Ralph F. Albanese (1919-1998), James Albanese (1921-1988), Ann Albanese (born 1925), Joseph Albanese (born 1928), Rosemary Albanese (born 1929), and Salvatore R. Albanese (1924-1972).
The family was dealt a major blow when mother Rosa died of a heart attack at the age of 45 on October 12, 1937. Following his wife’s death, Joseph had great difficulty caring for his many children on his own. His eldest daughter Phyllis, however, stepped in to fill the role helping to raise her many brothers and sisters. Joseph Albanese died at age 64 on July 9, 1959.
Salvatore R. Albanese was born on April 20, 1924. He married Michelina Lotierzo on November 12, 1946. Salvatore and Michelina had four children: James Albanese (born 1947), Rosemary Albanese (born 1952), Anita Albanese (born 1954), and John Paul Albanese (born 1960). Much like his mother Rosa, Salvatore Albanese passed away at a young age of 48 on November 4, 1972. Michelina went on to marry Fred DeRosa. They lived together at 75 Holland Ave in Floral Park until his death at the age of 92 on May 3, 2010.
[i] http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=7488&path=1914.03.05.Berlin.197#
[ii] http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7488&iid=NYT715_2490-0224&fn=Rosa&ln=Vitillo&st=r&ssrc=&pid=4015125516#
[iii] Uncle Joe notes
[iv] http://books.google.com/books?id=3MoWAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA236&ots=FYRCVXNnhY&dq=albanese%20%22our%20lady%20of%20peace%22%20brooklyn&pg=PA229#v=onepage&q=our%20lady%20of%20peace&f=false
[vi] http://brooklyncatholic.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-lady-of-peace.html