Discuss Roseto/Bangor

[Phil Falcone - Site Admin]

I think we have the right amount of current and former Roseto/Bangor members to have a common area to share stories. Many of you are having that "OMG" moment where you're connecting with other members one-to-one; just imagine if you could uncover even more of those because your stuff is in one common spot for ALL to reply to.

[Phil Falcone - Site Admin]

A few years ago, my cousin Michelle and I were at the Big Time. We also were searching for information on her relative, Palmer Cotturo, a dentist who some considered very eccentric. He was always seen wearing white suits in summer and the front yard of his home was gated and contained an abundant quantity of statues. We couldn't get very much on him but would still like to know. Any takers?

[Louis Magdits]

Dr. Cotturo was my dentist for many years while I was growing up in Roseto. He was a very good dentist and eccentric was never associated with his personality. I think the time that you refer to was late in his life when some health issues came about.

Lou M.
Rolla Missouri

[Jack Finelli]

Palmer and I have been life long friends. We went to high school and college together. Eccentric , never. He is doing well and we spent a few hours together Big Time Sunday.
Jack Finelli

[Phil Falcone - Site Admin]

Jack, that's good info and if you have a way to contact him, let me know in a private message. What's odd is that we spoke with several people who said they knew him and the word eccentric kept coming up; but it appears that it was only their opinion and not fact! Since Michelle and I have never met him, we were not in a position to question that.

[Jack Finelli]

Elaine and I spent the week-end in Roseto and the Big Time. Met and spoke with many friends that we rarely get to see, having been away from the area for many years. It is always wonderful to "get back to your roots." Three years ago I visited Roseto Valfortore and enjoyed the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. What a great experience. The Big Time brought back many pleasant memories . It's great to be a Rosetani.

[Phil Falcone - Site Admin]

A question from one of our members: "Do you know what year the New Catholic Cemetery "opened for business". I really don’t think that the new cemetery existed in 1928."

I am guessing 1923 when the new church was started. What say you?

[Lynda Matthews]

Well this is very interesting to me because my paternal great grandfather Giuseppe Lanza is buried in Roseto - even though no immediate Lanza relatives lived there (we had Sabatino relatives there). Giuseppe Lanza and his two sons, Francesco and Luigi (my grandfather) immigrated to Sydney, NS from Roseto Valfortore. Because the boys were on the move, when their father passed away in 1910 -they took him to Roseto to be buried, I guess because there were Paesani there. The record I have shows that he died 27 of March 1910 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It then shows the Funeral Director as A.J. Beaton (I am assuming this was in Sydney -not Roseto/Banger??) - and that he was buried in Bangor, PA. The thing is that some years later when my mom and aunts went to find his gravestone it was no longer there and the priest at the church did not seem to know anything about it. With this new information that the new church and cemetery were not started until the early 20's possibly; maybe that means that my great grandfather was not buried in the cemetery at Our Lady of Mount Carmel then? Does anybody have any ideas on this? Is there another cemetery close by? As it says he was burined in Bangor, is Our Lady of Mount Carmel considered in Roseto - or Bangor? I know this is very close. Any help or input would be appreciated.
Lynda

[Ken Rosato]

Lynda, Besides the two Catholic cemeteries in Roseto, the one at the church and the new one at the other end of town, plus the "Presbyterian" cemetery (its real name is Evangelical), there is a very large public cemetery in Bangor -- St. John's (as well as smaller church cemeteries there). I have ancestors buried at the old Catholic and Presbyterian cemeteries in Roseto, and at St. John's as well. It sounds as if the grave you are looking for might be in St. John's. There are lots of Catholic graves there. -- Ken

PS -- Most of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church is in Bangor, but almost all of the cemetery is in Roseto.

[Lynda Matthews]

Thanks very much Ken for responding to my querrie. I am now wondering, as you suggest if Giuseppe Lanza could be buried in St. Johns - rather than in the cemetery next to our Lady of Mt Carmel Church. I find it hard to imagine that a tombstone could just disappear. Possibly my aunts, going back years later thought it was at Our Lady of Mt Carmel -but were actually mistaken. Will always be a mystery to me, as my one aunt who was interested in these facts, passed away two years ago; so I do not have her to bounce information off of any longer. I may look of St. Johns (is it in Bangor or Roseto) and write to them. Thanks.
Lynda

[Ken Rosato]

St. John's Cemetery is in Bangor.

[Lynda Matthews]

Hate to bug you again Ken, but can you answer one more question for me? Is the St. John's Cemetery close enough to the Lady of Mount Carmel Church and cemetery that it's possible my aunt would be confused as to where their grandfather was buried - i.e. thinking that it was at the latter and that the tombstone had somehow disappeared??

[Phil Falcone - Site Admin]

Lynda - hopefully I have captured a map with both cemeteries on it. Doesn't seem likely that they could be confused since Rt 512 is well between them.