Caterina Bonventre (abt. 1884 - abt. 1920)

Born about 1884 in Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Ancestors

Wife of Salvatore Bonanno — married 9 Apr 1904 (to about 1915) in Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Died about 1920 at about age 36 in Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

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Biography

Caterina Bonventre is born around 1884 in Castellammare del Golfo, the daughter of Martino Bonventre and Carmela Magaddino.

On 26 March 1883 in Castellamare, Mariana Pampalone, age 47 (b. 1836), midwife, reports the birth on 23 March of a baby to Carmela Magaddino fu Pietro, wife of Martino Bonventre fu Giuseppe, age 28 (b. 1855), carrettiere, in their home in via Pergola, #6, in Castellammare del Golfo. The baby is a girl and is named Caterina.^[1]

When she is still a minor, she marries the new patriarch of the Bonanno clan in Castellammare.^[2]

On 15 March 1904 in Castellammare del Golfo, Salvatore Bonanno, celibe, age 25 (b. 1879), possidente, son of the late Giuseppe Bonanno and the living Vita Vallone; and Martino Bonventre, age 50 (b. 1854), borgese, father of Caterina Bonventre, age 20 (b. 1884), housewife, daughter of Carmela Magaddino, housewife; publish their intention to celebrate a marriage between Bonanno and Bonventre in Castellammare.^[3]

On 22 January 1905 in Castellammare del Golfo, Salvatore Bonanno, age 27 (b. 1877), borgese, reports the birth on 21 January 1905 of a baby to Caterina Bonventre di Martino, his wife, in their home in Corso Garibaldi, #250. The baby is a boy and is named Giuseppe.^[4]

The family moves to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, from about 1908-1912. They return to Italy in time for Salvatore to serve in World War I in Austria. He is wounded and comes home, where he dies in December 1915.^[2]

Caterina dies around 1920.^[2]

Joseph illegally re-enters the United States in 1924.^[5] He is immediately active with the most powerful organized criminals in New York City.^[6] When the devastating Castellammarese War is over in 1931, Joseph Bonanno heads his own crime family. Based in Williamsburg, New York, the Bonanno Family has rackets all over the United States and Canada.^[7]

Joseph Bonanno, age 27 (b. 1904), son of Samuel Bonanno and Catherine Bonventre, marries Fannie Labruzzo, age 26 (b. 1905), daughter of Charles Labruzzo and Marie A. Bruno, on 15 November 1931 in Kings, NY.^[8]

Joseph Bonanno lives at 4009 Church Ave. Age 27 (b. 1904). Barber. Born in Castellamare Golfo Italy. Father Samuel, mother Catherine Bonventre. First marriage. Fannie Labruzzo lives at 114 Jefferson St. Age 26 (b. 1905). Born in Tunisi, Africa. Father is Charles, mother is Marie A. Bruno. First marriage. They are wed at St. Joseph’s Church at 185 Suydam St, Brooklyn, on 15 November 1931. Witnesses are Gaspare DiGregorio and Catherine Graccone. On the line for the bride’s signature it says Filippo La Bruzzo. Fannie may have been born Filippa Bruno.^[9]

In 1983, Joseph writes an autobiography, A Man of Honor.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Atto di nascita, Caterina Bonventre. (1883, March 26). Record no. 174. https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua16107858/LpXjqyE Image 63
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Bonanno, J. and Lalli, S. (1983). A man of honor: the autobiography of Joseph Bonanno. St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
3. ↑ Pubblicazione di matrimonio, Salvatore Bonanno and Caterina Bonventre. (1904, March 15). Record no. 44 https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua16101011/w6zROr6 Image 32
4. ↑ Atto di nascita, Giuseppe Bonanno. (1905, January 22). Record no. 39. https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua16107938/5vJMqrp Image 17
5. ↑ Raab, S. (2005). Five families: The rise, decline, and resurgence of America’s most powerful mafia empires. New York: St. Martin’s Press (Thomas Dunne Books).
6. ↑ Hortis, C. A. (2014). The mob and the city: The hidden history of how the Mafia captured New York. New York: Prometheus Books.
7. ↑ Critchley, D. (2009). The origin of organized crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931. Routledge.
8. ↑ Detail: 15417. "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CD-LJ8W : 17 August 2022), Joseph Bonanno and Fannie Labruzzo, 1931.
9. ↑ Certificate and record of marriage, Joseph Bonanno and Fannie Labruzzo. Certificate no. 15417. New York State. Brooklyn. https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/9802837