Family History

My name is Gloriana, a 4th-generation child of Italian immigrants. Due to the lack of information regarding my ancestry, I decided to start collecting as much data as possible from online sources. It has been an insightful experience to get familiar with the past. I have never considered myself as an immigrant, yet after digging more about my past I have come to realize I have crossed feelings about it. 

Since I was little, I had feelings of displacement and strangeness every time people would ask me about my unusual last name. I would unconsciously hid behind my mom's skirt, and later I just secretly hoped people wouldn't ask me about my past. Little importance did I gave to gathering information, until years later when pursuing an undergraduate degree in English and cultural studies at the UCR, then at a master's level in Bamberg University. Now, studying in Barcelona, I strongly experienced the sight of an immigrant. The answers to where I belong, who I am are far to be reached, which makes life choices even harder. This is another reason why collecting data about your family can be of great use for your future children, so they don't ignore who they are or even forget where they come from. Today, I feel as a proud Italo-Costa Rican, if that ever existed. 

In case any reader believes to have any useful resources that can contribute to my project, please write to me. 

Screenshot taken from the Italian Embassy Archives. Nov.11.2017

The most known to be the immediate relative to my family is Francesco Valente Cocozza. Information retrieved from the online archives of the Italian Embassy in Costa Rica shows specific data in regard to my great-grand father's place of departure in Italy, ship's name and day of arrival to Costa Rica. The fact that many of my relatives keep his same first name, Francisco, after him makes it harder to track his succession. 

Francesco Cocozza Valente, born in 1860, son of Guisepe Cocozza and Leonarda Valente, was a peasant either from the commune of San Biagio Saracinisco, in the Province of Frosinone, Lazio or from San Francesco, Caserta, Campania, Italy. (1) He was the brother of two other siblings: Maria Rossa Cocozza Valente and Antonio Cocozza Valente. Upon their arrival to the new world, Francesco Cocozza Valente continues his journey South bound. In regard to his brother, Antonio Cocozza, he appears to be the father of Alfredo Cocozza Lanza, also known as Mario Lanza. He was a successful singer and "operatic performer." He became part of the emerging american-italian musicals who accomplished to jump into the big screen. His change of name was to honor his mother's name, Maria Lanza. 

Francesco Cocozza Valente settles down in Costa Rica, and due to the lack of communication technology he loses contact with his relatives. In 1894, he marries Delfina Alfaro Mora in San José, Costa Rica. Delfina and Francesco formed a family. 1), 2), and José María Cocozza Alfaro. He dies in September 26, 1921.

Giuseppe was born in ?? They get married in ?? and X.Arias have three children: Carlos, Francisco and Roberto Cocozza Arias. 

A bit about Giuseppe. He was a skillful craftsman, and his work of religious figures was well-known in...? 

Cocozza Camacho's Family

Francisco Cocozza Arias was born in ....? marries Aura María Camacho Rivas. They have three children: Francisco, Wilber and Irene Cocozza Camacho. Franscisco Cocozza Arias was a business man. He attended the nocturnal high school. Later, he enrolls the University of Costa Rica and graduates with a degree in business administration. He accomplishes a successful career and travels all over the world. His children attended the public school of Gravilias, Desamparados. Francisco's role in the household is often recalled as a totalitarian dictatorship. Today, his sons and ex-wife often describe to have lived in a climate of tension and resentment when he was around. After 18 years of marriage and a parallel live in a conspicuous love affair, he decides to divorce Aura María, and moves in with Margina Bendana among his other three children: Margina Junior, Mario and Andrea Cocozza Bendana. Francisco's successful career declines. He dies of stomach cancer in 2015. 

Francisco Cocozza Camacho. 

The oldest son of Franscisco C.A. is born in November 11, 1962. He attends the Colegio Seminario, a men's high school and later graduates in Civil Engineering at the University of Costa Rica. In July 17, 1987, he marries Sandra Garro Calderón, the oldest cousin of a large family from Higuito, Desamparados. He works for a private foundation of housing for low-income families, named FUPROVI. He is a hard-working man and dedicates his spare time with his family. Sandra and Francisco have two children: Francisco and Gloriana Cocozza Garro. 

Wilber Alberto Cocozza Camacho. 

The middle son of Francisco CA. and Aura María CR. attends the Colegio Semanario and later graduates from the University of Costa Rica. With a degree in computer science, he becomes an international auditor in Central America and the Caribbean. He often carries out business trips. He married Marcela Barrantes, a colleague of his, in XXX, and have a daughter named Marcia Daniela Cocozza Barrantes. 

Irene Cocozza Camacho. 

The only daughter, from Francisco CA's first marriage, attends a women's college named Colegio Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. She graduates from the University of Costa Rica with a degree in Industrial Engineering and has worked in several American companies located in duty free industrial parks. She marries Errol Flores in ....Both have a son named Christian Alexander Flores Cocozza. 

Notes. 

1. (Francesco's birth certificate shows he was from San Biagio Saracinisco; however, Roberto Cocozza Arias, brother of Francisco Cocozza Arias, claims the latter in a blog, according to the Italian Registry and the Costa Rican Catholic Church).