Maria Teresa Meloni

Maria Teresa Meloni, daughter of Giovanni Maria (Mimmia) Meloni and Antonia Luigia Corrozu , was born on 13 Apr 1902 in Ossieri, Sardinia and died on 6 Jul 1983 at age 81.

Searches for ’Maria Meloni’ in Ellis Island records reveal an entry left completely blank for a passenger on board the S.S. Duca Degli Abruzzi leaving Genoa and arriving USA December 2, 1920.

The S.S. Ferdinando Palasciano (see manifest) left Genoa in February 1921 carrying Antonia Ruffini, her children Giovanni and Mattia, Matteo Lai and Maria Meloni. She lists her nearest relative at home as her mother Antonia Corosu and her mother’s residence as Ozieri. They arrive in Philadelphia. All of them are described as born in Nughedu, and all of them are listed as going to stay with "Giovanni Ruffinu", who is expressly described as the "betrothed" of Maria. Luigi says that he remembers her saying that when she arrived in New York, she was sea-sick and cold.

1920s: She was married to Giovanni first in a civil marriage, and then later, by a year or so, in the church, due to pressure from Antonia Ruffini. Giovanni was married to Maria Teresa at the age of 33, on July 25, 1921, at Ss. Peter and Paul church in San Francisco.

Luigi on one occasion noted that he was born at home through a mid-wife, but everyone else was born in the hospital. Maria Teresa almost died with Mary, who was going to be born at home through a mid-wife, but was so difficult that they had to go to a hospital. On a later occasion Luigi said that Maria Teresa’s first three children were all born through a mid-wife, and her last three at the hospital. She walked to the hospital to have Giulio.

Luigi says that Giovanni and Maria Teresa always spoke Italian to each other.

1930: She appears as ’Teresa Ruffini’ in the 1930 census at the age of 28.

She appears in the Social Security Death Index as Maria Ruffini, SSN 558-72-6682, issued 1963, deceased July 1983. She appears in the California Death Index as Teresa Ruffini, deceased 6 July 1983.

Maria married Giovanni Ruffini on 25 Jul 1921 in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco, CA.