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Weekly Bulletin September 19, 2021
by Terrie Evans
Our next family group to be remembered and honored on Sunday, October 3rd will be the Antonio (Anthony) and Rose Mary (Stevens ) Cerullo Family. Anthony R. Cerullo arrived from Felitto, Italy alone at the age of 18 years old in 1920 and became good friends with the Raffaele Minella family on Queen City Avenue. He felt at home in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount as there were many residents from Felitto. Anthony Cerullo (1902-1991) married Rose (Stevens)1908-1992) on June 26, 1926 in Hamilton, Ohio and became part of the Stevens Family with her siblings, Dominic, Noble, Dan, Angela, Jean, Josephine. Theresa, Louise and Margie welcoming him.
Anthony and Rose settled in the Lower Lick Run Section of South Fairmount at 1890 Queen City Avenue and welcomed daughters Rosemary (Cerullo) Schneller(1928-1984) and Marlene (Cerullo) Steers (1933-2020). They joined San Antonio Church and in 1932, Anthony Cerullo was part of the Festival Committee under the direction of our then pastor, Rev. Dennis Englehard, O.F.M. The Cerullo Family were present at the dedication of the new San Antonio Church on December 1, 1940, when Rosemary was 12 and Marlene was 6. During the 1940’s Anthony served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers during WWII. When he came home after his service, the Cerullo’s became an important part of our church and a big part of the fabric of the Italian Community in South Fairmount. He was known for his gardening skills, winemaking and the love he had for San Antonio Church. Anthony worked many hours doing the electrical work needed for the annual festival and handled repairs to the church building while being a member of the San Antonio Men’s Society. He retired from the Cincinnati Gas &Electric Company after 28 years and went on to be a Commander of American Legion Post 507, VFW Post 4962 and a valued member of the South Fairmount Improvement Association.
Rose (Stevens) Cerullo was also a very dedicated and active parishioner at San Antonio Church as a member of the St. Ann’s Ladies Sodality, St. Angela Ladies Auxiliary #28 Knights of St. John and served on the Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the church in 1972. Rose also worked as a hostess at Women’s Exchange Restaurant and later on at LaRosa’s Italian Inn. Their daughters, Rosemary and Marlene also carried on the volunteer work of their parents as young girls. Rosemary Cerullo (1928-1984) married Richard Schneller (1929-2016) and welcomed Thomas, Rick, Dan (1959-2016), and Linda Rose. Rosemary Schneller later became a member of the Madeira-Indian Hill Fire Department. Even though Rosemary moved out of the neighborhood, she always supported our fundraisers. Marlene (Cerullo) (1933-2020) married Ronald Steers(1931-1970) stayed on the West Side and carried on the work of her mom Rose (Stevens) and dad, Anthony Cerullo at San Antonio until the last few years of her life.
Marlene was a member of the present day Men’s and Ladies Sodality and worked the many fundraisers while working as the 1st Female E.M.T. Fire Fighter with the City of Cheviot. She became a widow at 37 when Ronald died suddenly on their anniversary in 1970. Marlene was left with a young family, Diana(Steers) Michels, Donna (Steers) Richards, Debby (Steers) Still and the late Dana (1962-2002), Duane (1962-2006) and Darren Steers (1968-2002) to raise while continuing to support San Antonio Church during those difficult years.
There was also another Cerullo Family – Carmine (1919-1990) and spouse Rosa (1924-2015) who once resided at 1730 Harrison Avenue. They are buried at Fountainhead memorial Park in Palm Bay, Florida.
You can also look forward to the future stories of another group of Minellas, sisters who made South Fairmount their home: Rosaria Minella Florimonte, Elena Minella Di Stasi, and Antonia Minella Carota.