OBIT: Mary (GRASSI) FENELLI, 1909, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Suzanne Trznadel SuzTrz63@comcast.net February 15, 2009, 11:10 pm Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ MARY FANELLI, Of 701 9th Avenue, died suddenly last night from apoplexy. Mrs. Fanelli was a remarkable woman in point of avoirdupois, probably being the largest woman in central Pennsylvania, weighing nearly 400 pounds, though she was exceedingly active and energetic and was the mother of nine children. She was one of the first Italian women to come to Altoona and had been a resident here for about twenty-two years and was a very popular member of Italian society, her perennial good humor and kindly face making her a general favorite. Mrs. Fanelli was born in Italy about 44 years ago and soon after she was married to Frank Fanelli she came to Altoona, where she lived ever since. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Mrs. Mary Chiarieri, Louis, Joseph, James, Michael, Susan, Rosie, May, Minnie and Nora, all of this city. She was a member of the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but, owing to the fact that a special casket must be constructed which will be so large that it cannot easily be taken into that church, the funeral obsequies will take place at St. Mark's Catholic church tomorrow morning. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., December 28, 1909 Additional Comments: Fanelli should be Fenelli. Mary and Frank only had 9 children as stated, but 10 are listed; there was no child named May. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/