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| From Dave DeSanzo,
Mar 2006 Hi Everyone, Last weekend I visited the old Saint Teresa Cemetery located in Hoytdale, PA. It is located one mile from my home and is north of Koppel, PA on State Route 18. This is the former site of the original Saint Teresa church which burnt down in the late 1930's or early 1940's. There are approx. 75 graves still located there. However, no one has been buried there since the early 1940's. I took some interesting photos. The first picture is the stone of Armando di Sanza. Armando's father was Bernardo di Sanza. The second picture is the stone of Joseph De Sanzo (spelled De Sanza). Joseph was the oldest son of Luigi di Sanza and Cristine Barile. I believe Della De Sanzo told me sometime ago that Ostilio Rossi actually made these stones himself. I can tell you that they have held up extremely well over time. Perhaps better than most if not all of the stones in this cemetery. Take care. Dave |
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| View of a part
of the Cemetery |
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| Another View. |
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Armando diSanza
From Dave DeSanzo, Feb 2006: Mark, I had Della DeSanzo look at the SPA militia picture over the weekend. Unfortunately, Della was not able to positively identify person #4 listed as diSano Giovanni as her father. However, 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. In the 1930 census, 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. (Mark's note: look on the diSanza web page). 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. Take care. Dave |
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| Joseph A. DeSanza Joseph was the oldest son of Luigi di Sanza and Cristine Barile. |
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Amico Gatti
Rayna,From Dave DeSanzo, Mar 2006:
This is really strange. Perhaps Mark can help sort things out. Last weekend I visited the old Saint Teresa Cemetery located in Hoytdale, PA. It is located one mile from my home and is north of Koppel, PA on State Route 18. This is the former site of the original Saint Teresa church which burnt down in the late 1930's or early 1940's. There are approx. 75 graves still located there. However, no one has been buried there since the early 1940's. I took some interesting photos. The first one is the stone of Amico Gatti. On Amico's stone it lists him as "Father". I searched the Census records for the area and I could not find any "Gatti's" living in the area. So I am assuming that Amico was living with his daughter who's married name I do not know. The second photograph is the stone of Luigi and Maria Rossi. I am not sure if he is related to your Rossi family. The third picture is really unusual. It is the stone of a "Giuseppe Buzzeeli". It is all in Italian and appears to be a variant of the surname Buzzelli. The shape is also very unusual. The top of the monument is shaped like a tree trunk with cut branches and all. I hope you enjoy the pictures and perhaps we can identify who these people were. Take care. Dave I found an Amico Getta in New Galilee in the 1910 United States Federal Census Amico Getta, 45y (Age 45y in 1910 would make him born about 1865.), New Galilee Boro, Beaver, Pennsylvania Louisa, 45y, wife, immigrated 1896, married 1895 Fred (Ferdinando), 11y, son (SSDI 1960) Carrie, 10y , daughter (SSDI 1997) Ettrina, 4y, daughter (SSDI 1980) The family also appears in the 1920 census. 1930 census shows wife's name is Luigina, Amico is dead by then. Three children still living with mother. Two Ellis Island manifests for Amico Gatti: 22 Oct 1894, 29y, going to New York 25 Nov 1910, 46y, going to New Galilee, PA. Includes wife and 3 children. (all listed as US Citizens). Travelled with Berta diSanza, 18y, going to Homewood, PA. I found this entry in the SPA birth records: Film 1338776 Nati
1864 #65
Amico Sabatino Gatti 29 Sep 1864 f: Sabatino m: Antonia Colajanni Dave DeSanzo has since determined that this is the Amico Gatti buried in the cemetery. He is also related to me, a 2nd cousin, 3 times removed. Mark, More information on Amico Gatti who is buried in the Hoytdale Cemetery. I found this picture in the New Galilee, PA Bicentennial Book published in 1976. The house is still standing and is located on Monroe Street across from the VFW club. I also discovered on Page 26 of the same book that one of Amico's granddaughters, Ettrina Gatti, is listed as a former school teacher at the New Galilee School. Dave  
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| Luigi
and Maria Rossi I could not find a Luigi Rossi in the SPA birth records between 1862-1865. Rossi, though, is a good surname from SPA. In 1910 census, Big Beaver, PA, I found Louis Rossi, 48y (wife Maria would have been dead by then) Mary, 77y, mother Domenic, 15y, son (also found WWII Draft Registration, SSDI 1970) Alfonso, 12y, son (SSDI 1977) Lizzi (Elizabeth), 11y, daughter Rosa, 7y, daughter I've also found four children in 1920 census (Domenic, Alfonso and Rosa living with married Elizabeth Rossi Curtaccio) and 1930 census (Domenic living with married Alfonso). Both of their parents were dead by then. |
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| Maria Rossi 1910 census, Big Beaver, PA. Mother of Luigi Rossi. |
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email from Dave, Mar 2006 The third picture is really unusual. It is the stone of a "Giuseppe Buzzeeli". It is all in Italian and appears to be a variant of the surname Buzzelli. The shape is also very unusual. The top of the monument is shaped like a tree trunk with cut branches and all. Bottom reads: Giuseppe Buzzeeli Nato il 19-7-1910 Morto il 22 Ottobre 1911 (or 1914) I wonder if this is a Woodmen of the World tombstone? |
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Gaudenzio Carlino
1855-1906
Photo by Dave DeSanzo.
From Stella Leonardo, Apr 2006: Hi Mark, It is stupendous. My Grandmother was Chiara Frazzini, born December 11, 1856 in SPA. Married *Guidenzio* Carlini. Emigrated to USA in the early 1880's. Settled in Homewood Jct. PA. and lived there until death December 29, 1937. Her husband died in 1906 and is buried in Hoytdale cemetery. She is buried in old St. Mary's cemetery. Her brother was Ruggerio (Roger) Frazzini, Freedom,PA. She also had a sister named Bambina living in Freedom. There was a sister in Salt Lake City, married name DiGacamo. Florina (Frazzini) DeSanzo was her sister. Florina married Frank DeDanzo on July 2, 1888 in Pittsburgh. Perhaps there is a distant relationsip between us. Thanks for sharing your extensive hard work. Stella Leonardo Mark's note: there is a photo of Chiara "Clair" Frazzino on the Buzzelli web page. Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 03:45:52 -0800 (PST) From: Stella Leonardo <s1947leonardo  yahoo.com>Subject: Re: Hoytdate Cemetery Hello Mark, My Grandfather Guadenzio is buried in Hoytdale Cemetery. I remember going to the cemetery with my Grandmother Chiara Frazzini Carlini. We walked by way of the railroad tracks to the cemetery. After pulling weeds and clearing out the brush, she planted geraniums on the grave. There was no tombstone, only a heavy metal marker with his name. I remember grandmother Chiara saying their infant twin daughter was buried next to him. Gaudenzio Carlini (my Grandfather) must have been one of the 60 passengers from San Peitro on the Ferdinand de Lesseps from Naples to New York in 1882. From New York he must have gone to Homewood. His trade had been that of a stonecutter and at that time the stone quarry in Homewood was in operation. His death in 1906 could be attributed to dust from the stone. I was born in Homewood -- go there to visit my sister Elaine and brothers Raymond and Alfred. Homewood now has a festival every year in early October known as Heritage Days. Always enjoy the visits at that time. Homewood Jct. is even on the web today Regards, Stella |
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St. Teresa Church
in Hotydale, PA
Hi Mark,From Dave DeSanzo, Jun 2006 Attached are three pictures of the old St. Teresa church which was located in Hoytdale, PA. The church was destroyed by fire in 1944. The cemetery is all that is left today. Hoytdale is located one mile north of Koppel, PA on State Route 18. I recently received these photos from the Diocese of Pittsburgh Archives Center. The Archives warned me that these photos were fuzzy. I did not care since these are the only known pictures of the old church. Dave |
I got these
emails in May of 2015 from a person looking for information about the
cemetery:
