Book 2 - Nathan, Amy, Madison and Ethan Berga

had grown up and
was raised by relatives;
she remained
very close to her
mother’s family,
and because of the
age gap, somewhat
distant from her
half siblings; even
at her funeral, none
of siblings were in
attendance.
Pietro, who now
went by Peter,
traveled back to
Italy sometime after
Anne’s birth in
1913. His brother
Giuseppe Berga
was still living in
San Front, Italy. 13
It is unclear why
he made his way
home, but it could
have been for a
funeral. Leaving
from France, on
the S.S. France,
Peter was on his
way back to Wakefield
on May 16,
1914. 13
Peter was Naturalized
May 29, 1930 13,14
along with thirteen
other new citizens.
He and Marianna took night classes to learn English,
saying, “We are in American now.” Peter and
Marianna owned their home on Tula Road, which is
now M-28. During the widening of Tula road, Peter’s
home was threatened. He had the house moved
from the Fink location, to the Connely addition on
July 17 1930.
Standing Left: Pietro Berga with daughter Barbara
& Andrew Galiardi
Sitting: Andrew’s wife Mary Ozzello
with her son Peter, holding her daughter. 1905
Courtesy of Peter Valesano
Peter had a stroke,
forcing him to relay
on others to
take care of him.
His grandchildren
would come over
and help him walk.
His grandson, Eugene,
would help
him shave, 15 and
being that his
handle-bar moustache
was his pride
and joy, he would
remind his grandson,
Eugene to,
“Be careful with
that razor.” 15
At 73, Peter died
on a Sunday, August
27, 1950. 1 He
had been hospitalized
for 69 days
and in ill health
for several years. 1
Funeral rites were
held on a Thursday
at St. Mary’s
Catholic Church.
He was buried in
Lakeside Cemetery,
Wakefield, Michigan
in Gogebic county. 1,5
His wife, Mary Ann,
died two years later,
at her daughter’s
home in Manitowich,
Wisconsin, February 2, 1952. She is buried by
her husband in the Berga family plot, for which Peter
had purchased five plots for $12.00 in 1935.
November 18-25, 1905 New York
Built by Cie. Générale Transatlantique (Penhoet),
St. Nazaire, France in 1899. Served as
armed merchant cruiser during WWI under
name LORRAINE II. Put back into service in
1919 under her original name. Scrapped 1923.
She could hold up to 1,114 passengers.
Above: Ship’s manifest states that paying their
own way, Pietro (29) and brother, Chiaffredo
(26), are destined for Andrew Galiardi’s home
in Gile, Wisconsin. Pietro first arrived in 1902.
The brothers have $20 to their name.
S.S. La Lorraine Steam Ship 1905