Francesca Geraci arrived at Painesville, Ohio, between 1898 and 1900. She arrived in Painesville with her husband, Francesco Dolce, and their children. In America, Francesca Geraci was known by her married name, Frances Dolce. Her husband, Francesco Dolce, passed away in 1904. She remarried about 1909, and was then known as Frances Vassallo.
Francesca Geraci, daughter of Filippo Geraci, was born on Monday November 4, 1878, at Montemaggiore Belsito, Sicily. She married Francesco Dolce about 1895 in Sicily. After Francesco passed away, she married second, Giovanni Vassallo, son of Antonio Vassallo, about 1909. Francesca died on February 21, 1933, at her home, 436 Railroad Street, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, at age 54, of heart failure. Her body was interred at St. Mary Cemetery at Painesville Township, Lake County, Ohio.
Francesca Geraci, age 17, immigrated to the United States on April 22, 1896. She was traveling to Buffalo, New York, with her husband Francesco Dolce, who was returning to Buffalo. Francesca’s husband, Francesco Dolce, was killed in a railroad accident in 1904, leaving Francesca a widow, with four children, all under the age of seven.
The four known children of Francesco Dolce and Francesca Geraci were as follows:
1. Joseph Dolce was born on December 23, 1897, at Buffalo, Erie County, New York. He married Pasqualina Brasacchio, daughter of Giovanni Battista Brasacchio and Francesca DeBiase, about 1921. Joseph died on October 25, 1981, at Lake County Memorial Hospital, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, at age 83. His body was interred at Riverside Cemetery at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
2. Grace Dolce was born in 1899. She married Anthony Todaro about 1920. Grace died on April 14, 1965, at Doctor’s Hospital, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
3. Phillip F. Dolce was born on February 17, 1901, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. He married Carmella Josephine Scaccia on June 2, 1928, at Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Phillip F. died on February 16, 1948, at 10515 Carnegie Medical Building, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, at age 46, of heart disease. His body was interred at Mentor Cemetery at Mentor, Lake County, Ohio.
4. James Dolce was born on July 28, 1903, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. He married Jennie R. Salamone, daughter of Joseph Salamone and Josephine Catalano. James died in 1985. His body was interred at Riverside Cemetery at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
The seven known children of Francesca Geraci and Giovanni Vassallo were as follows:
1. Johanna Vassallo was born about 1910.
2. Lena Vassallo was born in either 1910 or 1911, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. She married first, John Gibaldi on July 16, 1928, at Cuyahoga County, Ohio. They were divorced in 1931. She married second, Giuseppe Salamone on May 20, 1933, at Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Giuseppe passed away in 1949. Lena married third, Joseph Scalero on April 7, 1951, at Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Lena died on October 25, 1963, at Women’s General Hospital, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
3. Antonio Vassallo was born on Monday August 19, 1912, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. Antonio died on August 24, 1912, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. His body was interred at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
4. Josephine Vassallo was born on Tuesday September 23, 1913, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. Josephine died on September 18, 1920, at Storrs Street, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, at age 6, as a result of an automobile accident. Her body was interred at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
5. Angela Vassallo was born on May 11, 1915, at Painesville, Ohio. She married John Novak. Angela died on October 3, 1999, at Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
6. Theresa Vassallo was born on Tuesday January 7, 1919, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. Theresa died on November 7, 1929, at her home, 524 Railroad Street, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, at age 10, from a diabetic coma. Her body was interred at St. Mary Cemetery at Painesville Township, Lake County, Ohio.
7. Anthony John Vassallo was born on Friday December 17, 1920, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. He married Harriet Bernice Hill, daughter of Howard Hill and Ethel Draper, on March 27, 1948, at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. Anthony died on September 19, 1967, at Lake County Memorial Hospital- East, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, at age 46, of a heart attack. His body was interred at Perry Cemetery at Perry, Lake County, Ohio.
