Wednesday's Child: Macrelli Children

Between 1924 and 1929, Ferdinand and Mary (Zurma) Macrelli lost three children due to illness. The children are buried side by side at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Census records tell us that Ferdinand and Mary were both born in Italy. They married in Erie County, Ohio on September 6, 1913. It is difficult to imagine the heartache that this couple faced together, in losing three children in such a short time span.

Alfredo Macrelli, called Frederick on his death certificate, died on November 22, 1924, at the age of 4 years old, due to heart disease. It looks as though a picture of Alfredo was once visible on his tombstone.
























Rosa Macrelli died on August 30, 1925, at 6 years and 10 months of age. Her death certificate listed her cause of death as paralysis of heart.
























A well worn image of Rosa can be seen on her tombstone.






















The youngest of the Macrelli children, William, who was born on March 22, 1922, died on March 29, 1929, from peritonitis following acute appendicitis. He passed away only a week after his seventh birthday.























William's picture is still visible on his tombstone. The image shows William holding a kitten.























At the time the Macrelli family settled in Sandusky, there was widespread discrimination toward the foreign born population, including a lack of respect, and name calling. To have these social issues taking place at the same time as the loss of three beloved children is more than some families could handle. Two other daughters in the Macrelli family did survive to adulthood. I hope that the Macrelli family found solace in the Catholic church, as well as in the Italian American community that was very close knit in Sandusky for decades. Obituaries found in the OBITUARY NOTEBOOKS at the Sandusky Library indicate that the Macrelli family attended Saints Peter and Paul's Church.