DONATI Kathleen 1934 O’Keefe\Smith line
FROM THE DONATI LINE Giovanni and Carubina Donati first arrived in Richmond from Italy in 1872. With them two sons Andrew who was 17 and Vittorio Carlo who was 15. Also with them was a nephew called David Donati age 13. The Richmond VA City directory 1872/73 documents them as being Plaster of Paris Makers.
Andrew Donati 1855-1922 became a confectioner by trade. His obituary states that he came to Richmond, VA shortly after the War Between the States, and with his brother Vittorio Carlo (Squire) Donati. They ran the oyster house and restaurant at Eighteenth and Franklin Streets. It also states that he was one of the oldest members of the Italian community in Richmond. He died of cardiovascular disease and is buried at Mt. Calvary cemetery. Andrew and Fannie had four children. Humbert 1883 , then twins who were born in 1885. One died in 1885, then the other in 1886. Lastly Charles V. 1887
Vittorio Carlo [SQUIRE] DONATI 1857-1915
Vittorio Carlo (Squire) Donati (b. November 20, 1857 d. August 3, 1915). Was known to the immediate family as “Big Daddyâ€. Like his older brother was an entrepreneur and had his hand in many of the new businesses of the region at this time. He married Mary Louise Ommenhauser (Molly) (b.Sept. 2, 1859, d.Aug. 20, 1895), who was German by descent. They had four children
Big Daddy” was a mover and shaker in the Richmond Business Community. He owned the Richmond Distilling company and the Stony Creek Distillery in Henrico County. He was also a Restaurant and Saloon Owner and Operator. He was a semi-pro baseball investor, an instigator of a taxi cab company which was the first one in Richmond. As well as all this he owned a portion of the Chamberlin Hotel, was listed in Dun and Bradstreet and kept a large boat on the James River where he would entertain his guests. The Governor of Virginia at the time was one of his earliest Guests .
Vic’s wife Molly died of cancer at the tender age of 36. She is buried at Hollywood Cemetery. Later in life Vic married Mary S. Gallagher, who was a widow and who was born in Chicago in May 1867. She had two children from her first marriage, Mary Hazel and Patrick. She died on 29th June 1908 age 46. She is buried at Mt. Calvary next to Big Daddy.
VITTORIO’s FOUR DONATI CHILDREN
John Anthony Donati (b. Oct 1881-d. unk),
Carrie DONATI (b. Oct, 1883, d.1992)
James Andrew Donati (b. Jun. 8, 1887, d. Oct 11, 1965)
DIRECT LINE. Amelia Rosalie Donati (1889-1965]. Amelia was born on 29th September 1889 in Richmond, Virginia. She was baptised on 26th February 1890 in St. Peter’s RC in Richmond. Her Godparents were Pietro Arrighi and Caroline Augustine and the Priest was Friar Frioti. After the death of her mother in 1895 Amelia and her sister Carrie were sent to Monte Maria Convent to live. Amelia was just short of her sixth birthday. She told in later life of how frightened she was of the Nuns as they held candles and chanted as they went up the stirs to bed in the Evening. The Convent was also used for boarding students. After a while she returned home but continued her daytime education at Monte Maria. She married Joseph Patrick Smith in 1910 and they in turn had four children Andrew Joseph 1911-1996, Mary Elizabeth 1913-1969, Michael Charles 1919-2001 and Joseph Patrick 1921-2002. She ran a restaurant with her sister for a while. When she was in her 50s she was diagnosed with Diabetes. Then in 1964 she broke her hip and was cared for, at her apartment, by her daughter Mary. Unfortunately her elderly husband had a stroke and they were both put into a Nursing Home St. Sophia’s Home where they remained until they died.
Amelia Rosalie Donati or Mellie
Amelia Rosalie Donati married Joseph Patrick Smith who was Irish by descent.
They married on 1st June 1910 in St. Patrick’s Church, Richmond, VA.
Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Smith [Kathleen’s mum] married Francis Joseph O’Keeffe [also Irish by descent].
Later she married Joseph A. Connolly
CHILDREN of Amelia Rosalie Donati 1889-1965 and Joseph Patrick Smith 1886-1965
His parents were living with his Donati grandparents at the time.
He found work in the Tobacco Industry in the city.
He married Elda Gibson in 1933.
For many years Andrew worked two jobs, in the Tobacco industry during the day and as a Bartender in the evenings.
Shortly before his retiral he began working as a mail carrier for the USPO.
After his retirement he and Elda travelled extensively util his death age 84.
Mary married Francis (Frank) Joseph O’Keeffe 1909-1954
Frank and Mary lived in the home of her parents where
their son Francis was born in 1932.
In 1933 the family moved to 210 N. 29th St., where Kathleen was born in 1934
Around 1936/1937 the whole family lived for a brief time in Roanoke, Virginia.
Frank and Mary seperated for sometime around 1937
Frank was a welder by trade and worked for The C&O RR.
By 1938, The Smith family (Mary’s parents) had moved to 3011 Libby Terrace to the home that Bridgett Smith had built.
Danny O’Keefe was born here in October, 1939.
Soon after the birth of Danny Frank returned to the home of his parents and
Mary and Frank divorced in 1943
She remarried in 1945 to Joseph A. Connolly
He married Anna Maria Giannini 1920-2014 and they had one son also called Michael Charles Smith junior. Young Michael died young of an alcohol related cause.
was born on November 10th 1921. He married twice.
First to Virginia Byrd Rennie in 1942.
They divorced in 1969. Children Donna Gaynelle 1944 and Joseph Patrick 1949.
His second wife was Beverly Ann Ellis and they married in 1976.
Joseph Patrick Smith Senior 1886-1965. He married Mary Elizabeth Smith
Joseph’s dad died in 1893 when Joe was 7.
They lived on Lester Street until his mum Bridget bought a lot on East Main Street, later known as Libby Terrace.
It was here they build their house.
Bridget encouraged Joe to leave school and get to work and his first occupation was as a Clerk in a Hat Store where his brother John already worked.
In June 1910 he married Amelia Donati and moved into the Donati home at 312 North 25th Street. His father-in-law got him a job in his distillery. The Donati family then moved to another home at 320 north 26th Street where they lived until father-in-law Vic died in 1915.
MARY ELIZABETH SMITH Direct Line 1913-1969
Mary Elizabeth Smith 1913-1969
1913–1969
BIRTH 16 MAY 1913 • Henrico, Virginia, USA
DEATH 26 JUN 1969 • Richmond City, Virginia
The story goes that there was a house explosion in the Smith home in 1926 and Mary (age 13), her mother’s sister Carrie Casci and Vinnie Smith, Mary’s first cousin were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Mary later married Francis (Frank) Joseph O’Keeffe, Jr. who was helping the family move when the explosion took place.
Frank and Mary lived in the home of her parents at 223 N. 25th, where
Francis J. O’Keeffe, III was born.
Between 1933 and 1934, the family moved to 210 N. 29th St., where Kathleen was born.
Around 1936/1937, Frank, Mary, Frank Jr and Kathleen lived for a brief time in Roanoke, Virginia. Frank and Mary seperated for sometime around 1937 because Frank is listed in 1937 at 2601 E. Grace, the home of his parents.
Frank was a welder by trade and worked for The C&O RR. Frank and Mary took the train to Savannah, Georgia on their honeymoon.
By 1938, The Smith family (Mary’s parents) had moved to 3011 Libby Terrace to the home that Bridgett Smith had built.
Danny O’Keefe was born in October, 1939.
Soon after the birth of Danny, Frank returned to the home of his parents and
Mary and Frank divorced shorthly afterwards.
Frank enlisted in the Army on 10 Mar 1942 and is listed as divorced with no dependents. His father died in 1941. Frank Jr. lived with his mother until he was hospitilized and died in 1954. Frank was a chronic alcoholic and had a heart condition which caused his early death.
Mary Smith O’Keeffe moved to Buckroe Beach, Virginia about 1945 where she met and married Joseph A. Connolly in August 1946.
Mary Elizabeth Smith 
The O’Keeffe brothers. She married Frank
FRANCES JOSEPH O’KEEFE 1932-1998
Francis Joseph O’Keeffe or Frankie, son of Francis Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Smith
KATHLEEN O’KEEFE 1934
With Karen and Suzanne 
