Sometime later, Raffaele was adopted by Antonio and Maria Teresa (Iodice) Gravante of a neighboring town, Portico di Caserta. The Gravante's, coincidentally, had lost a stillborn baby boy on July 9, 1887, who was also named Raffaele. Antonio and Teresa would go on to have several biological children including Filomena, Francesco, Giovanni and Alessandro Gravante, Luke Gravanti, and Maria Antonia Vitale.
Raffaele served for two years as a private in the Italian military. On April 4, 1906, he arrived in New York City, after sailing on the SS Madonna, living in America for about two years. He eventually returned to Italy in 1908, only to come back to the United States permanently in 1910. He sailed on the SS Europa, and arrived in New York on December 4th. He moved into 903 Grove Avenue, in Niagara Falls, New York.
A few years later, at the age of 25, he married Francesca Gallo, who was the daughter of his adopted mother's first cousin, Lorenzo Gallo. They filed for a marriage license on May 8, 1913, and were officially married on May 15 in Niagara Falls. Their neighbors, Pellegrino and Anna Sabella, served as the witnesses. They eventually moved to 1163 Fairfield Avenue. In 1915, Ralph began working for the New York Central Railroad, working until his retirement 38 years later.
Ralph and Francesca had 11 children, until Francesca's death in 1931; Anthony Penale, Laurence Penale, Frank Penale, Erick Penale, Dominic Penale, Mary Penale, Theresa DiCecco, Josephine Laurenzi, Regetta Bane, Jenne Whitmire, and Frances Havens. Ralph was survived by nine children, 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at the time of his death in 1968.
Sometime later, Raffaele was adopted by Antonio and Maria Teresa (Iodice) Gravante of a neighboring town, Portico di Caserta. The Gravante's, coincidentally, had lost a stillborn baby boy on July 9, 1887, who was also named Raffaele. Antonio and Teresa would go on to have several biological children including Filomena, Francesco, Giovanni and Alessandro Gravante, Luke Gravanti, and Maria Antonia Vitale.
Raffaele served for two years as a private in the Italian military. On April 4, 1906, he arrived in New York City, after sailing on the SS Madonna, living in America for about two years. He eventually returned to Italy in 1908, only to come back to the United States permanently in 1910. He sailed on the SS Europa, and arrived in New York on December 4th. He moved into 903 Grove Avenue, in Niagara Falls, New York.
A few years later, at the age of 25, he married Francesca Gallo, who was the daughter of his adopted mother's first cousin, Lorenzo Gallo. They filed for a marriage license on May 8, 1913, and were officially married on May 15 in Niagara Falls. Their neighbors, Pellegrino and Anna Sabella, served as the witnesses. They eventually moved to 1163 Fairfield Avenue. In 1915, Ralph began working for the New York Central Railroad, working until his retirement 38 years later.
Ralph and Francesca had 11 children, until Francesca's death in 1931; Anthony Penale, Laurence Penale, Frank Penale, Erick Penale, Dominic Penale, Mary Penale, Theresa DiCecco, Josephine Laurenzi, Regetta Bane, Jenne Whitmire, and Frances Havens. Ralph was survived by nine children, 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at the time of his death in 1968.
Family Members
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Theresa Penale DiCecco
1914–1970
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Anthony G. Penale
1915–1996
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Josephine Marie Penale Laurenzi
1917–2003
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Laurence Guy "Ace" Penale
1918–2002
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Frank Richard Penale
1919–2000
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Erick Penale
1920–1925
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Jenne F. Penale Whitmire
1921–1973
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Dominic L Penale Sr
1923–2019
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Mary Penale
1924–1937
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Regetta "Ki Ki" Penale Bane
1927–2011
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Records on Ancestry
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New York, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1847-1849, 1907-1936
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U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
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U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
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New York, U.S., State Census, 1925
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