Peter and Mary Denova

 

According to records at FamilySearch, Peter Denova  (Pietro Dinova) was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1849. His first wife was Concetta Trentanelli. Together they had three children. Concetta Trentanelli Denova died in 1879. After the death of his first wife, Peter Denova married the sister of Concetta. Her name was Mary Trentanelli (also known as Maria.)

Together Peter and Mary Denova had four children, but only two lived past early childhood. Leonardo Denova, a son was born in 1883 or 1884. A daughter named Lillian (sometimes listed as Concetta) was born in 1886 or 1887. About 1894, the Denova family emigrated from Sicily to the United States. In the 1900 U.S. Census, the family was residing in Omaha, Nebraska, where Peter worked as a peddler. By 1910, the Denova was living in Sandusky in Erie County, Ohio. The U.S. Census listed the household as: Peter and Mary, son Nado, daughter in law Josephine, and two grandchildren, Mary and Peter, who were most likely named after their grandparents.

Sadly, Lillian died at age 26. She was the wife of Joseph Carrou. At the time of her death, she left two small children. Eventually Joseph remarried, and moved back to Nebraska.

Peter Denova passed away in 1919, and his wife Mary died in 1940. Peter and Mary Denova are buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Sandusky, close to their son Leonardo Denova.

Not far away is the grave of Lillian Denova Carrou.

This family suffered so much loss, and had to create a new home far away from the land of their birth. Rest in peace Denova family!

*As often is the case in the first part of the twentieth century, spellings of surnames can vary widely, depending on the record.