Rosario Collorafi, was born in Patti in about the year 1852. He was the son of Giuseppe Collorafi, whose parents were Rosario Collorafi and Caterina Gambino (or Caterina Marfo). His mother is Febronia Amato. The name Rosario has been in this branch of the Collorafi family since about 1624, and Rosario has two other cousins in Patti, about his same age, with the same name - Rosario Collorafi - as you can see in the family tree in another part of this book.

He is the oldest son, and is named after his grandfather, Rosario, who was born in either Librizzi or Patti, Sicily, in about the year 1790 and died in Patti on September 14, 1880. Rosario's siblings are: Antonino, born about 1855; Pietro, born about 1858; Maria Caterina, born in 1849; and Giuseppe, born about 1856. His father's profession is given as a pastry maker on Rosario's wedding record. His mother, Febronia Amato, is a spinner, and has died by the time that Rosario is married on February 7, 1877 in Patti, Sicilia.

We find the information about his marriage, his children, parents, and wife in the civil records of Patti, Sicilia. His name is sometimes spelled in the old way - Cullorafi-, as it is on his marriage record.

Rosario is twenty five years old, and a ship worker, when he marries sixteen year old Maria Panta. Maria is an orphan. The only time that we have seen a Sicilian girl marry under the age of twenty is when one or both parents have died. She is the daughter of Vincenzo Panta, who was also a pastry maker and may have worked with her new father-in-law, Giuseppe. Her mother was Angela Aiello. Maria Giuseppa Aiello marries Rosario's brother, Antonino on August 26, 1876 in Patti. On her wedding record, Maria Panta's profession is listed as a "filatrice", a spinner.

They had the following children, all born in Patti, Sicilia, Italia:

1. Giuseppe, born in 1872, marries Francesca Lietrico on November 29, 1899.
2. Vincenzo, born on October 23, 1873, marries Carmela Galea.
3. Antonia, born in 1881, marries Giuseppe Accordino on December 14, 1901.
4. Febronia Collorafi, born on October 14, 1882, marries Vincenzo Avallone onn October 12, 1902.
5. Giovannina ,born June 29, 1884 and dies on September 11, 1903 in Patti.
6. Salvatore, born in 1888, died on June 8, 1890.
7. Calogero, born December 3, 1889, marries Jeanne Galea. She is the sister of Carmela, who marries brother, Vincenzo.
8. Euginio, born September 1, 1891 and dies in World War I

Maria Panta has died before her daughter Giovannina, as she is listed as "fu", meaning that she is dead, on the death certificate of Giovannina in 1903.
Information about Febronia & Vincenzo Avallone's family is included in the section of Pietro, Rosario's brother, and emigration to the United States.

Information about Rosario and his family comes to us from the civil records of Patti, as well as family memories. Eugene and Claudie Collorafi, Josephine Collorafi and Irene Tanti, of France as well as Laurent and Rita Collorafi Cupani of Canada have been kind enough to provide us with pictures and family history of his descendants.

Shortly after the turn of the century, it seems that Rosario and some of his children moved to Sousse, Tunisia. We read about the family and their endeavors in the book, A La Recherche du Sousse D'Antan. This is a history of the beautiful seaside town of Sousse. On page 89, we read: "Industries: Diverses petites enterprises s'installerent aux abords de la Medina. C'est ainsi que quelques ateliers de construction metallique et de charronnerie furent etablis surtout par des Maltais et des Italiens pres de la Porte-Sud. De meme que fut cuite rouge pour la fabrication de marmites, pots, tajines...(Collorafi)."  Translated this says: "Industries: A variety of small enterprises took root on the borders of Medina. It is for this reason that workshops for metal fabrication and the making of wheels was established, especially among the Maltese and Italians near the south port. There were likewise established under the eastern ramparts, a small pottery workshop, using red baked clay for making pots, jars, and tajines...(Collorafi)."

Rosario's great-grandson, Eugene Collorafi, tells us that the Collorafi pots were highly regarded as they were made with a very water tight glaze, from a secret family recipe. Rosario and his children prospered in Tunisia and also were noted cobblers.

Two of Rosario's sons, Vincenzo and Calogero married sisters, daughters of Marie-Anne Beltrano and Salvatore Galea. Vincenzo married Carmela and Calogero married Jean. Their family tree is included in this section. Relatives from all over France mailed information to us for this Colloraffi book. The Beltrano family, from Malta, was one of the founding families of Sousse, Tunisia. At one time they owned an entire block of buildings, pictured here. Irene Tani, of Paris, is the great-grand daughter of Salvatore and Marie-Anne Beltrano. She was helpful in providing information about her grandparents and ancestors.

It is interesting that the Collorafi family went into the pottery business. This part of our family in Patti were employed in shipping, and fruit selling, for the most part. However, Patti was known, throughout Italy, as providing the best pottery and pots.

An Italian proverb speaks to this:
Deve essere di Patti la pentola, per fare la minestra saporita. (in Italian)
Vol'essiri di Patti la pignata pri fari la minestra sapurita. (In Sicilian)
The pot must be made at Patti, to make a delicious soup.

Information about this branch of the family is from the descendants of Vincenzo and his wife, Carmela.

Rosario and Maria's son, Vincenzo married Carmela Galea, who was born on October 8, 1883, in Rolriel, Saint Michel, France. Her parents were Salvatore Galea and Marie-Anne Beltrano. Her father was French and her mother from a Matlese background. Her grandparents are said to have been among the founding families of Sousse, Tunisia. They had three children: Antoinette, born on May 26, 1912; Rosario, born August 17, 1910, and Marie, born on April 20, 1908. All of the children were born in Sousse.

These three little Collorafi children grew up and eventually married. Rosario married Josephine Fenech on April 14, 1938. Antoinette married Francois Beltrano on February 7, 1933 and Marie married a distant cousin, Giuseppe Collorafi.

Our Collorafi family worked hard, grew and propsered in Tunisia. They celebrated good times together and helped each other when times were difficult. Josephine Fenech knew her husband's grandfather, Rosario and told us that he lived with his son, Calegero and his wife, Jean. Rosario was still mourning the loss of his son, Eugene Collorafi in the war, and his grandson, Rosario and wife, Josephine, promised that they would name their son after him, which they did.

Josephine and Rosario Collorafi had four children:

1. Claudia, born 1939, married to Pierre Dumas.
2. Eugene, born 1940, married to Claudie Clech.
3. Rita, born 1942, married to Laurent Cupani.
4. Bernard, born 1945, married to Olga Bielansky.

Eugene told us that the children all learned the trades of pottery maker and shoe maker. They could speak Arabic, Sicilian, Maltese, and French before starting school, where they were taught in French! The family was well respected in Sousse, and then came World War II. Times were not always easy for the Sicilians living in Tunisia. During World War II, Rosario, was put in prison and his property was taken away from him, because he was considered an enemy - being Sicilian. Even though he was born in Sousse, Italian citizenship is passed from from father to son, and the Collorafis maintained their Italian citizenship. Josephine Collorafi told us that what was not lost to the family during World War II, was lost when they had to leave Sousse, in 1962, when France gave their colony of Tunisia back to the native people! When this happened, Bernard, Eugene, and Claudia left with their parents for France. Rita and her husband, Laurent, went to live in the provice of Quebec, Canada

Laurent and Rita Collorafi Cupani told us a little more about their family and their life in Tunisia. Not only was the family well respected for their pottery and cobbler shop, but for their honesty. When the native population was looting and burning shops owned by "foreigners", Josephine was worried about the safety of her husband Rosario. She was told by customers, "Do not worry Mdse. Collorafi, you have always been fair and honest in your trade with us, nothing will happen to your family." Josephine and Rosario made sure that their children had a good education in Tunisia to prepare them for their lives. Rita told us that before going to school, the children in her family could speak Arabic, Maltese, Sicilian and French! In school, she had 8 years of languages and today speaks Italian, English, and French fluently.

She also told us that her father was not only a potter but an artist in pottery, as well. He made many figures for the traditional Italian creche, but all were lost when the family left Tunisia. Rita told us that although her parents were strict, they were understanding when she explained that she had fallen in love with a young man who sang in the church choir with her - Laurent Cupani. Laurent, though born in Tunisia of Sicilian/Maltese parents, always had a dream of emigranting to Canada and moved to Quebec with his young wife, Rita.
Jospehine and Rosario Collorafi, her parents, had to start life over again after Tunisia was returned to the native people. With only a few thousand dollars, everything else left behind, Rosario opened a small shop in Nimes, where his daughter Claudia had moved with her husband. Family ties have remained strong and though separated by thousands of miles, this family still maintain their stong bonds and ties.

Vincenzo's sister, Marie, who is one of the three children in the picture, married a distant cousin. Her husband, Giuseppe, is also one of the descendants of Giuseppe and Febronia Amato Collorafi. The Collorafi family, some living in towns other than Sousse, visited each other when they lived in Tunisia. Marie and Giuseppe's daughter, Rita, tells us this beautiful love story. It also speaks to the tradition of "arranged" marriages, which we discussed earlier in this book.

Marie and Giuseppe were married in 1925 in Sousse, Tunisia. They had the following children, all born in Tunisia.

1. Febronie, born in 1926.
2. Vincent, born in 1930.
3. Bernedette, born in 1934.
4. Gerard, born in 1938.
5. Pierre, born in 1942.
6. Rita, born in 1947

More information about this family is found in both the family tree and the section on the Descendants of Marie-Ann Beltrano and Salvatore Galea. Information included was provided by family members in France, from family records. Please see the Molto Grazie section. This part of the family moved to the south of France, after 1962, as did the other child of Vincenzo and Carmela and her family. We are very grateful to Rita Collorafi Destenay for her contributions to this Collorafi Famiglia book - her encouragement and information!

Giuseppe and Marie Collorafi children, and their six children, could be put in this section, as well, as in the Rosario Collorafi section. Giuseppe Collorafi, who married Vincenzo and Carmela's daughter, Marie, was one of three children born to Giuseppe Collorafi and Febronia Amato. As confusing as this seems, this Giuseppe's father's parents were also named Giuseppe Collorafi and Febronia Amato. This is because of the Sicilian tradition of cousins marrying cousins, and the custom of naming children after their grandparents. What this means, is that the Giuseppe Collorafi, pictured here, is the nephew of Rosario Collorafi, who brought his family from Patti to Sousse. We learn about this branch of our family from both Rita Collorafi Destenay , of France, and her first cousin, Lillian Collorafi, of Italy.

From the civil records of Patti, Sicilia, Italia, we know that Giuseppe Collorafi was born about 1856 in Patti. He was the son of Giuseppe Collorafi and Febronia Amato, both born in Patti. He married Febronia Amato, the daughter of Anna D'Ansico and Gaeteno Amato in Patti on October 11, 1885 in Patti. They had three children:

1. Giuseppe Collorafi, born January 11, 1890 in Patti, died January 30, 1959 in Sousse, Tunisia. He married Marie Collorafi in 1925.
2. Gaetano Collorafi, born in 1892 in Patti. He married Dina Bruni.
3. Maria Febronia Collorafi, born in 1886 in Patti. She married Salvo Cachia.

In February, 1999, Liliana Collorafi, daughter of Gaetano and Dina, wrote to us to tell us a little more about this branch of the family. "My name is Liliana Collorafi and I'm 64 years old. I'm a teacher of French and English. I was amazed when I realised that teaching is the tradition in our family...I live in Busto Arzio (Italy), an industrial town...I'm interested in classical music, reading, theater and everything which relates to teaching...My brother, Giuseppe Remo, who is 71, is a dentist in Modena, which is a pleasant town..." She continues and introduces us to Giuseppe Remo and his family. His wife's name is Edda Mattiloi. They have three children: Federica, who is 35, Riccardo, 33 and Stefano, 25. Federica has a degree in Latin and Italian, Riccardo is a geologist, and Stefano is still at university.

Lillian tells us an interesting story about the family and life in Tunisia. "My brother and myself were born in Tunisia, in Mahdue, a pretty town at the seaside. Unfortunately, when Tunisia, which was a French protectorate, got it's independence, we had to leave the country. So our big family was split up and settled in two different European countries: Italy and France. (note-Laurent & Rita Collorafi Cupani went to Canada.

Lillian tells us, "As far as I can remember, my grandfather, Giuseppe was born in Patti." She then explains that his wife was Febronia Amato and they emigrated to Tunisia when her father, Gaetano was two years old. Her grandfather had a hardware store. She tells us that her grandparents, Giuseppe and Febronia had three children, which are listed above, and that her mother, Dina Bruni was from Tuscany, Italy. Dina's father emigrated to Tunisia when she was 18 years old.