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Stefano died at 89 years of age on 31 December 1922. His funeral, which took
place on New Year's Day 1923 and proceeded to the Daylesford Cemetery, was
attended by a large number of the district's residents. Headed by the Daylesford and
District Citizens' Band, the coffin was carried by Andrea Lafranchi, Cos Lucini, O.
David, A. and F. Ferrari and R. Gheeman. The cord-bearers were E. Pozzi, W.
Williams, H. Haynes, L. Kieran, G. Page, L. RoUeri, J. Young, W. N. Harvey and J.
Hohnan. The crowd, which included representatives from Stefano's family, members
of the various community groups to which he had belonged and his friends, proved the
high respect he had eamed both as a member of the Italian-speaking population and of
the community in general. A tribute which appeared in the local newspaper twelve
days after his death had eulogised Stefano:
[Stefano was] industrious, energetic, enterprising and honest. He was
loyal to the country of his adoption, interested in the welfare of its
people and ever ready with his services or cash to befriend a needy
fellow citizen. ^^
By the time of his death, three of Stefano's children were married: Nilo, Erina
Seconda (to a Mr. J. T. Haynes), and Violetta (to a Mr. W. Williams). Riva, at 36
years of age remained at home and, together with her mother, decided to sell the family
property and move to Melboume. Their land holdings, which all came up for auction
on 24 March 1923, included the block on which their house stood, two blocks
opposite purchased on 8 January 1894, a block to the rear of the house purchased 15
Febmary 1897 and land bought 9 May 1916 when Stefano was 83 years old. Together
they totalled around three hectares. On the same date, all the household fumiture and
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