Francesca Antonina (Vutera) Paternostro (1898 - 1982)

Born 18 Apr 1898 in White Castle, Iberville, Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Calogero Paternostro — married 1917 (to 6 Dec 1952) in Iberville, Louisiana, United States

Died 31 Jul 1982 at age 84 in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Lena Vutera is born 18 April 1898^[1] in White Castle, Louisiana, the daughter of Vincenzo Vutera and Jennie Cusimano, immigrants from Corleone.

Lena appears in the 1910 census as "Francesca." According to the naming convention followed by Sicilian families, Lena is named Antonina, after her maternal grandmother.

Lena's father is killed in a shootout dubbed the Macaroni Wars in New Orleans in June 1902.

Her mother remarries to Charles Vincent Peranio, who is also from Corleone. In 1910, Lena lives with her mother, stepfather, siblings, and paternal grandfather.

In the 1910 federal census taken 6 May of Police Jury Ward 1, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, on the Dorceyville road, Vincenzo Perano, 34 (b. 1876), heads a household with his wife of four years (m. 1906), Jennie, 35 (b. 1875), both born in Italy. It is his first marriage and her second. She has had two children, both living. At home are Vincenzo’s step-children: Mary "Ventro" (Vutera), 14 (b. 1896), Francesca (this is Antonina/Lena), 13 (b. 1897), Luca, 10 (b. 1900), and Lucy, 8 (b. 1902); and children Rosalie, 3 (b. 1907), and Dominick, 1 yr 7 mos (b. Oct 1908). The children were all born in Louisiana. Also in the household is father-in-law Luca "Vutro", 63 (b. 1847), a widower, born in Italy. Vincenzo emigrated in 1898 and his FIL, Luca Vutera, in 1890; his FIL is naturalized. Vincenzo is a grocery store keeper working on his own account.^[2]

Lena marries Calogero "Carlo" Paternostro around 1917. They have at least two children, John (c. 1918) and Louis (c. 1922).

In the 1930 federal census of Ward 10, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, taken 2 April, Lena and Lucy's families are neighbors on Jefferson Hwy/US-71. Their half-brother Dominick, recently married, lives nearby, and so do their mother and stepfather.

Carlo Paternostro, 34 (b. 1896), born in Italy, heads a household with his wife Lena, 31 (b. 1899), and sons John, 12 (b. 1918), and Louis, 8 (b. 1922), all born in LA. They married at 21 and 18 years of age (13 ya; in 1917). Carl emigrated in 1900 and is a naturalized citizen. He hauls mill logs.^[3]

In the 1940 federal census of Fordoche Village, Police Jury Ward 10, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, taken 2-3 April, the same families as in the 1930 census live on the gravel road in Fordoche West J & R RR. The brothers Carlo and Charles are both independent truck drivers.

Carlo Paternostro, 44 (b. 1896) has been crossed out and another age, 59? (b. 1881) entered, born in Italy, wife Lena, 42 (b. 1898), and sons John, 22 (b. 1918), and Louis, 18 (b. 1922), all born in Louisiana. Carlo is an independent truck driver, John and Louis are farm laborers. He owns his home, worth $1,200.^[4]

Lena's mother, Jennie, dies in 1962. Her obituary names her daughters with their married names and towns of residence. Lena and her sister, Lucy, live in Fordoche.^[5]

Lena dies on 31 July 1982. She is buried in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery in Maringouin, Iberville, Louisiana, next to her husband.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18730474/lena-paternostro : accessed 31 December 2021), memorial page for Lena Peranio Paternostro (18 Apr 1898–31 Jul 1982), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18730474, citing Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Maringouin, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by skatoolaki (contributor 46887319) .
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRVZ-Q18?cc=1727033&wc=QZZW-HS6%3A133638601%2C137159701%2C133721301%2C1589089035 : 24 June 2017), Louisiana > Iberville > Police Jury Ward 1 > ED 52 > image 41 of 56; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRH9-6P6?cc=1810731&wc=QZF3-Q9P%3A648806801%2C649727101%2C649543701%2C1589282368 : 8 December 2015), Louisiana > Pointe Coupee > Police Jury Ward 10 > ED 14 > image 1 of 25; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MR-26V?cc=2000219&wc=QZXP-4T8%3A790102701%2C793510201%2C790682201%2C793564401 : accessed 2 January 2022), Louisiana > Pointe Coupee > Police Jury Ward 10 > 39-14 Police Jury Ward 10 SW of Texas & Pacific Railway, Blank, Fordoche (part), Lottie > image 2 of 30; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205304307/jennie-peranio : accessed 31 December 2021), memorial page for Jennie Cusamino Peranio (1872–17 Jan 1962), Find a Grave Memorial ID 205304307, citing Saint Marys Cemetery, New Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by Rita Graves (contributor 46836288) .