Girolamo DiStefano was born 16 December 1885 in Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
He is the son of Leonardo DiStefano and Giuseppa Megna. Girolamo is the eighth of nine children. He has six older sisters, an older brother and one younger brother.
Santa Flavia – Palermo – Sicily – Italy
Santa Flavia is 10 miles from Palermo which province it belongs to. It has a population of over ten thousand inhabitants. Santa Flavia rises on a flat coastal area and is 180 feet above sea-level.
The main agricultural products are citrus fruit and vegetables. It is notable for it fresh fishes of various sort. The town is very old and has been dominated by different feudal families since the middle ages. It is now a desired destination for tourists.
Girolamo left home in 1901, at the age of 16, to avoid being drafted into the Sicilian army. He made his way to the United States as a stowaway on a freighter bound for New York City. There are no records showing that he came through Ellis Island.
What brought him west to Kennecott copper mine, we do not know, but we understand that he did not directly work in the mine but provided transportation to workers who labored in the mines.
The two Luisi (Lewis) brothers, who were frequent passengers in Girolamo’s truck, invited him to travel to Denver, Colorado for a visit. In Denver, he met their sister, Katherine Jennie Luisi (Lewis). Girolamo and Kathrine were married 27 February 1912 in Denver.
Marriage
On 27 February 1912, Katherine married Girolamo DiStefano in Denver. He was introduced to Katherine by her two brothers who encourage Girolamo to pay the family a visit. They worked with Girolamo in Magna, Salt Lake, Utah at the Magna copper mills.
After their marriage, they returned to Magna where they resided for a short time before they move to Tabiona, Duchesne, Utah where they own and operated a General Store in Hanna.
Children
Girolamo and Katherine had 9 children: Leonard Joseph 1913, William LeRoy 1915, James Woodrow 1918, Perry Antonio 1920, Joseph Lewis, 1922, Felma Josephine 1925, LeRoy William 1927, Geoge Washington James, 1930, Thomas Leonard 1933.
LeRoy William (Tete), Girolamo, James, Joe
For a time he was estranged from his family but was reunited with them in his later years.
Occupation
Merchant, Farmer
Death
Girolomo died of liver cancer on 12 September 1947 in Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado.
Contributed by: Kathryn DiStefano Griffiths – Granddaughter
Informants: Interviews with James DiStefano, son and
Thelma (Sis) DiStefano Dulle, daughter.