More details on the Sharamitaro family may be found at:
The Pietro Ciaramitaro Family Genealogy Timeline
Guiseppe "Peno" Sharamitaro, son of Pietro and Laura Ciaramitaro, married in 1936, to Virginia Green, daughter of Charles and Nora Green.
Peno, whose father died (in Boston, MA) when he was only a year old, moved to St. Louis MO with his mother and siblings. They moved in with their oldest sister Jenny and her family on West Park.
Special thanks to grandson Joseph Sharamitaro for sharing this beautiful wedding portrait.
Loretta married Charles Jones, they had a son; Charles Jones Jr.; Loretta later married Donald Baum, they had a son; Donald G. Baum.
Mary Jane married Joe Wiss, they had four children; Mary Virginia, Joseph, Carolyn and Peter Wiss.
Katheryn married William Dame, they had four children; Karen, Gina, William and Holly Dame.
Peter married Carol Anne Walker, they had three children; Peter, Susan and Michael Sharamitaro.
Charles married Sharon Tresch, they had three children; Jennifer, Tony and Joseph Sharamitaro.
Special thanks to grandson Joseph Sharamitaro for sharing this wonderful family photograph.
The Peno and Virginia Sharamitaro Family Story
In the early 1920s, after her husband died of a heart attack in 1912, Laura Ciaramitaro, widowed at 30 years old, and with five young children; Fannie, Joseph, Katie, and Peno moved to St. Louis. Laura's sister Rosalia was living here, as was her daughter Jenny and her family. Laura may have taken whatever living quarters she could manage at first, at times living in a four family flat of her own, at 1111 Walton, then later at 6328 West Park with Jenny and her family.
Peno Sharamitaro (b:1911) was a tiny baby in 1912 when his father, Pietro Ciaramitaro died. He grew up in St. Louis, living in Dogtown, with his mother and next oldest siblings.
His first job was as a clerk in his Uncle Joe's fruit and produce store, later as a (truck) driver. On his application for his Social Security card he stated he worked for Hartman Fruit and Produce at 1121 N. 3rd Street, St. Louis, Mo.
According to family stories, the very first time he saw Virginia Green, he knew she was the girl he wanted to marry.
Sharamitaro Memories
From Virginia Green Sharamitaro's Memorial Tribute, written by her grandchildren:
(I have no way of knowing which of her grandchildren contributed to this Memorial)
Virginia was a beautiful woman. At the age of nineteen she devoted her life to being a loving wife and mother. She accepted and performed her role with grace, dignity and humility. She was always a gracious hostess. No one ever heard Grandma complain about anything.
In (Virginia's) her own words "She was an Irish lady that married an "Italian hunk". Per her grandkids "boy did this make a fiery union!"
She (Virginia) told this story of her days as Rosati Kain High School. . . A nun thought she was wearing mascara, which was not allowed in those days, but she wasn't! They were her own green Irish eyes. She was a natural beauty.
Grampa spotted her beauty on the corner of Tamm Avenue. He saw her walking with a red tam on her head and knew this would be the girl he'd marry. He had to wait a few years though, because her Daddy said she was too young for a boyfriend. Grampa had to find tricky ways to see the Irish beauty. Everyday Grandpa would pick up his own mother from work in downtown St. Louis. Then he would pick up Virginia and her girlfriend from Rosati Kain. Grandpa's mother wanted to know who the girls were. Peno told her they were customers of the produce stand.
We are still amazed that Virginia never learned to drive. If she was asked, she would respond that there was nowhere she needed to go without Grandpa or nothing that Grandpa would not provide.
She has loved and prayed to the Blessed Mary every day of her life on behalf of all of us. We will never forget the wonderful life lessons you have given to our family; love, strength, respect, faith, devotion, humility, togetherness, and lots of laughter.
From Rosalie Sharamitaro Kiernan (niece of Peno Sharamitaro)
I use to go to Uncle Peno and Aunt Virginia's a lot and stay over night. Their house (1022 Art Hill Place) looks great. Uncle Peno really kept the house looking
And Uncle Peno and Aunt Virginia's house looks the same as when we were young children. Charlie lives there now.
Mary Jane & Joe Wiss live at 1107 Art Hill Pl. This house use to be Joe's family house. I think he grew up living there. When his parents either died or moved, Joe and Mary Jane moved in.
From
| HOME | DOGTOWN |
| Bibliography | Oral history | Recorded history | Photos |
| YOUR page | External links | Walking Tour |