Augusto Ongaro and Luigia Maria Pavan

Daughter, Theresa Ongaro, married Camillo Gaspardone

Augusto Ongaro was born on September 4, 1877, in Arzene, Pordenone, Udine, Italy.  He married Luigia Maria Pavan, who also was from Arzene.  They had three children: Mary Teresa, born 1899, Giacomo, born Aug 24, 1901 and Modesta Pamela, born July 10, 1903.  Augusto made his journey to America in 1911.  The 1921 Canadian Census showed him, and twenty-two fellow Italian labourers, at the Black Mountain Irrigation Camp #2, in the Rutland, BC area. Included in these names are Sam Ongaro, age 46 (immigrated 1911), Maxim Ongaro, age 17 (immigrated 1920), and Giacomo Ongaro, age 20.  It is believed that Augusto and Sam were brothers and Maxim (Massimo) is Sam’s son.  Luigia never made the journey to America.

Giacomo immigrated to New York on December 25, 1919, with his final destination listed as his father, in Kelowna, BC.  On January 2, 1923, Giacomo entered the United States by automobile at Sumas, Washington and petitioned for Naturalization.  His 1942 enlistment papers listed Giacomo as working for Crane Mills Bakery, in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  On December 27, 1944 Giacomo married Carmella M Capetta.

Teresa immigrated on August 30, 1923, with her final destination listed as her father, in Kelowna, BC.  She married Camillo Giovanni Gaspardone, son of Kelowna Pioneers, Luigi Gaspardone (1903 arrival) and Maria Rosa Bevilacqua (1907 arrival).  Camillo was a teamster and farmed in the Kelowna area.  Both Camillo and Teresa passed away in 1977 and are interred in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.

Modesta married Guillermo Pagnucco.  She passed away in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Augusto, a retired farmer, crossed the border on March 27, 1945, at Blaine, Washington, on his way to live with his son, Giacomo (Jake), in North Hollywood, California. But, he did not remain long in California.  Augusto passed away February 28, 1957, in Kelowna.  He is buried in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.

Don Rampone