Spallina, Union Highland Cemetery, Florence Colorado

The Spallina family is buried in this plot at Union Highland Cemetery in Florence, Colorado. 

This most unusual covering has always caught my attention. What looks to be tin covers the entire family. A father, mother and their child rest here.

Daughter, Lena Spallina was born in 1898. Her death was listed in the death records of St. Benedict’s Church and are posted to her online grave profile. She passed from appendicitis on August 5th, 1907, she was 9 years old. The record states a birthplace of Hastings, Fremont County, Colorado. Hastings was a mining coal camp and company town near Aguilar that was active in 1898. Although there was another mine near Victor, Colorado, I’m not seeing anything for Fremont County.  The father was a coal miner and hopefully I’m right when it is assumed the Las Animas County site is likely correct. 

Rosario Spallina, father of Lena, passed away on November 10th 1931. He was in Los Angeles when he fatally suffered a brain hemorrhage after being ill for a few months. He lived in Colorado for around 25 years and was brought back to be buried with his daughter. He worked as a carpenter and a coal miner in the area until leaving for California. His body was returned with his wife Vicenza and his son Vincent. He was buried in Union Highland Cemetery in the family plot. His services were held at Florence’s St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. He was 64 years old and born in Italy in 1867.  

The mother of Lena, Vicenza Spallina, was born in Italy in approximately 1881. She was 70 years old when she passed away in Fremont County, Colorado on June 27th, 1950.  She was still in the service of St. Benedict’s Church in Florence as they listed her death in their records just like the others. 

They share a single stone at the head of this metal bedstead. Rest easy Spallina Family. 

#notforgottencolorado