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Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Posted: 24 Jun 2015 8:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Mazza

We cannot find a death certificate for our grandfather. Details are as follows:

Born approximately 1871 in Italy; died in 1933 in Philadelphia.

We have direct confirmation from Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania that he was buried on 06 July 1933. There is a gravestone as well listing both him and his wife (Annunziata Della Luna Mazza).

We've attempted to find the death certificate with no success; he does not seem to be listed in any indices of death records in Philadelphia. We've tried variations on the name (Massa, Maggia, etc.), to no avail. We're reasonably confident he would have died in South Philadelphia. He's listed in the 1930 census as living there.

There is a death certificate online for a Carlo Mazza who died in 1938 in Hazeldon, PA. This is *not* our Carlo Mazza, despite the similarities.

It is all a bit baffling as we've been able to find death certificates for family members who died prior to and after him with ease. His is the only one we've yet to find.

Any suggestions as to what might be case here or where else we might search?

Thank you.

Re: Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Posted: 25 Jun 2015 8:08AM GMT
Classification: Query
I couldn't find his death certificate either and even checked Philadelphia deaths for early July 1933. It is possible he died in New Jersey (perhaps he was living there the last few years of his life). Also I noticed that there seems to be a gap in the online indices on the State Archives website. Mazzo in the Soundex is M200 which is completely missing from the 1933 index (along with M100 and everything in between). I suggest contacting the Archives to find out why (be sure to tell them you already checked Ancestry and you want to see if he is listed at all in the original state indices).

I suggest checking with the church he was a member of and assuming he was Roman Catholic the Philadelphia Archdiocese Archives to see if they can help you. They may be able to give you a more definite date of death as well as other information.

Re: Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Posted: 25 Jun 2015 1:11PM GMT
Classification: Query
Great! Thank you! This is very helpful -- I like concrete actions I can take! We will pursue.

Re: Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 9:42PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 27 Jun 2015 9:43AM GMT
This appears to be the account of his death (see the attached). He didn't die in Philadelphia, he died in a bus accident July 2, 1933 on a New Jersey highway on his way to Boston to attend a funeral. Evidently the newspaper got his age wrong but the home address of 806 S 8th street, Philadelphia was your Carlo Mazza's address in the 1920s city directories and in the 1930 census, correct?

Location of death from other newspapers:

NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., July 3. One man was killed and twenty-one persons were injured when a bus and an automobile collided and plunged down an embankment on State Highway 25, at Sand Hills, N. J seven miles from here...
July 3, 1933 ; The Evening News from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania · Page 14

Carlos Mazza killed... bus overturned in a ditch near Sand Hill, on the Brunswick Pike, about 4 miles south of New Brunswick, NJ
Brooklyn NY Eagle
July 3, 1933


Attachments:

Re: Carlo Mazza (1871 to 1933) Philadelphia

Posted: 27 Jun 2015 5:23PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you!

This fits what we know, that Carlo's sister married and moved to Boston. So he had family there and the timing fits.

This is welcome news (well, not welcome that he died this way! how horrid!), but good to know the full story.

Many many thanks.
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