Lyrad Riley - Ernie Riley - Mary Teresa Tomasini - Domenica Andrini
(Born: Aug. 11, 1890 (Torino, Italy) / Married Ernest Tomasini Sept. 23, 1912 / Died 1983 )
Family history tidbits from conversation with Mary Riley, Nov. 1996:
Mary's mother was Domenica Andrene. She was originally from Turin in N. Italy. She had one brother, Pete, who preceded her to Italy, and one sister who stayed in Italy. Domenica's mother died early and she was raised by her father, who was a farmer. Her recollections of her father include that he always ate with a wooden spoon and he had all his teeth.She left Italy at age 18 and went to California and lived with her brother. Ernest was working on a farm and Domenica was working in the house when they met and married. She was 90 when she died. Mary Teresa Tomasini was born Nov 22, 1913 in Guadalupe, CA. When she was 5 they moved to UT so that Ernest could work in the sulfur mines. Ernest was originally from Milan. He always made his own wine and brandy, even during Prohibition. He loved cars, and got his first one when Mary was about 10 yrs old. He tried to outdo the neighbors with newer cars. Mary was staying with friends in Salt Lake City while Kelly was attending the University of Utah. His sister introduced them. They dated for two years before getting married Dec 10, 1937. Kelly Ray Riley liked fishing and fixing up small engines. He attended the University of Utah for a coupe years, and also worked in the Conservation Corps. His siblings are Alice, Bunny, Newman (who has done some geneology for the family and put together some book), Delwin, Dell, who served in the Army, Paul (who married Martha, was close to Kelly, but very competitive. He got one of the first microwave ovens and loved to show it off by cooking bacon), Rayonne, Sammy and Jean. Kelly's parents are Charlotte "Lottie" and Ray Riley. Lottie was quiet, reserved, and never drove a car. She cooked for the farm hands. She and Ray were both raised in Bountiful, and lived together on the lot @ 132E 5th So. She was said to be sweet and affectionate. Ray liked his meat rare, and to eat rice pudding they made on a coal stove. He was a dairy farmer, and Kelly hated to milk cows. Ray was hard of hearing all his life. He loved to garden, and his chickens and flowers won prizes at contests. Lottie's parents are Kelly and Priscilla Davis. Kelly's father was a missionary to England. Priscilla was a pioneer and crippled when a wagon ran over her legs while crossing the plains. They had two invalid daughters. Kelly Riley was a turkey farmer for two years before moving out to Altonah in 1946. In 71 they moved back to Bountiful. Kelly loved the soil and to see things grow. He thought that if you had a piece of land then you really had something. Mary says they wanted to travel but always put it off because they were saving for the future until they were too old to travel. Mary recalls playing with dolls and jacks as a child. They moved from CA to UT when she was 5 yrs old. She remembers some "Redwing" song that was popular then. Her mother had a nice voice and liked to sing while she worked. Her family moved to 2.5 acre place in So SLC to raise chickens, and then to Kennelworth (mining camps) where Mary started school. She couldn't speak a word of English when she started school. As a teenager, her family moved to a small farm off Redwood Road. Mary's siblings are: Pete, who taught her how to drive right before she was married-not many women drove then; Ester (in Cleveland); Alta, and Stella (the youngest). Mary was born 22 Nov 1913. Mary says Ernie was a very active young boy. He would do things like chop down his grandpa's little trees but get away with it because he was the first grandchild. He worked with Kelly a lot picking up rocks, milking cows, working in the garden. He went down to Atamont to school.
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Mary Teresa Tomasini Riley
Mary’s mother, Domenica Andrini, came to the United States from Italy. Dominica’s mother died early and Domenica was raised by her father, who was a farmer. Domenica grew up with her brother, sister, and father in a dirt-floor one-room house with a divider in the middle. The family slept on one side of the divider and their cow slept on the other side of the divider. Domenica’srecollections of her father included that he always ate with a wooden spoon and he had all of his teeth. Domenica made wonderfulgnocchis and lived to age 90.Mary was born in Guadalupe, CA. As a child, she enjoyed playing dolls and jacks. She moved from CA to UT when shewas 5 years old. Her parents raised chickens in SLC before moving to a mining camp. When Mary began first grade, she couldn’t speak any English, only Italian.Mary has a wonderful memory of the Christmas when she was 12 years old—she received a wrist watch and was absolutely thrilled! At school, they would have a “peanut bust” for fun. Everyone would throw and break shelled peanuts. Maryremembers eating so many peanuts that she couldn’t eat any more for a long time. When Mary was 14, her appendix ruptured and she was rushed to LDS Hospital.When Mary met Kelly Riley, she was cleaning houses in Salt Lake for $5 a month. He and Mary bought 160 acres in Altonah, UT, and spent several years working hard there to build up a dairy before moving back to Bountiful. Just last spring, Mary was driving to Duchesne with her daughter Mary Ann to get some trees. A deer jumped in front oftheir car and they crashed into it. The deer hit the radiator and broke the lights. The car had to be towed all the way back to Salt Lake
Source: Conversations between Alicia Burk Riley and Mary Riley, Bountiful, UT, 2000
Mary’s Mother: Domenica Clara Andrini
Domenica Andrini came to the United States from Italy. Dominica’s mother died early and Domenica was raised by her father, who was a farmer. Domenica grew up with her brother, sister, and father in a dirt-floor one-room house with a divider in the middle. The family slept on one side of the divider and their cow slept on the other side of the divider. Domenica’s recollections of her father included that he always ate with a wooden spoon and he had all of his teeth. She left Italy at age 18 and went to California and lived with her brother. Ernest Tomasini was working on a farm and Domenica was working in the house when they met and married. Her husband, Ernest, was originally from Milan (Italy). He always made his own wine and brandy, even during Prohibition. One time, police were searching for alcohol and searched in Ernest’s house. The bathtub was full of wine he’d made, and his daughter stayed locked in the bathroom pretending to take a bath until the policemen left. Ernest loved cars, and got his first one when Mary was about 10 yrs old. He tried to outdo the neighbors with newer cars. He worked in Utah sulfur mines. Domenica made wonderful gnocchis and lived to age 90.
Source: conversations between Mary Riley (Domenica's daughter) and Lyrad (Mary's grandson) and Alicia Riley, 2000, Bountiful, UT
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“Remembering Grandma Mary” by Keyan
We were just up to see grandma Riley before we left for Mississippi. I knew it would be the last time we would see her and I enjoyed the time we were able to spend. She was in a lot of pain, and could barely stand up straight. She asked me about the pain and the medicines she was taking, but she didn't complain once. When she started to talk about the pain, she would go into the familiar "well, that's just it!" While I was in her house I took a good long look at that old fridge she had...the one with the handle that pointed straight up and you had to turn it to the left or the right to get it to open. That is the same fridge that she has been keeping her grape juice in since we were kids. And she has had the same picture of a smiling kid on her fridge for some time. On the back of her door was the frog-like creation that cousin Matt drew with crayon when he was a boy. My favorite memory of her and grandpa was that there was always something growing there on the place. I was always sad to see Riley Court in the place of the orchards and grape vines. Undeterred, she grew her tomatoes under the pine tree in her front yard even last year. The little plants under the glass bowl on top of the deep freeze, and of course, the rose floating in a bowl of water----next to a glass of grape juice. The love of gardening and plants that I have is shared by my brothers and is easily traced to my sweet grandma. I had the opportunity to spend some time reminiscing with her and we went up stairs together a few years ago. I loved sleeping upstairs when we would visit and looking out those upstairs windows at the traffic on 5th south. She offered me some old books which were up there,and they are treasures. It was up in that very attic that I learned to tie shoelaces (from Lyrad, I think). One funny thing, I had this vision when I was just a little kid that I was going to marry Shellee and move into that house...I loved that place, from the time I was little until now. We would sit by the flowers on that sloping lawn to the north (now under a retaining wall) and watch the traffic roll by. I think I had this "dream" because her place was a place where I always felt warm and welcome because grandma made it that way. I will really miss her sweetness and the simplicity with which she maintained her house and life. I hope I can live my life with the dignity and grace she showed.
Some thoughts from Cory..
She was always such a sweet grandma - I have many fond memories of her fresh cookies and grape juice she always made for us, and mush and plain noodles with butter on them (which I still make often). She loved gardening and enjoyed getting out. She lived a very good life- I'm sure she's in a peaceful, beautiful place..
And from Lyrad….
My best memories of Grandma Mary are from childhood. After a long hot drive across Nevada it was wonderful to get out and stretch our legs with a tour around Kelly’s garden and orchard. It was always remarkable to me how little their home changed from year to year. As a child, their home was a place of mystery—wondering why you had to reach through a hole in the wall to turn on lights, why you’d carry a faucet handle from tap to tap, what false teeth were for, and how adults could look at albums full of pictures of the same things for hours. I loved to go up the creaky stairs to explore the attic and look out the window at the cars whizzing by, then go down the stairs in the greenhouse to the musty cellar and lie on that soft bed in the cool air. Grandma never seemed to stop moving—wiping clean counters, rearranging the tables, cutting up fruit, and seeing to everyone’s comfort. I marveled at her simple, frugal ways, and still think of her when I hum to myself absent-mindedly or feel the compulsive urge to grow a few vegetables. Her work ethic and concern for others are contributions to a heritage we all can be proud of.
We were just up to see grandma Riley before we left for Mississippi. I knew it would be the last time we would see her and I enjoyed the time we were able to spend. She was in a lot of pain, and could barely stand up straight. She asked me about the pain and the medicines she was taking, but she didn't complain once. When she started to talk about the pain, she would go into the familiar "well, that's just it!" While I was in her house I took a good long look at that old fridge she had...the one with the handle that pointed straight up and you had to turn it to the left or the right to get it to open. That is the same fridge that she has been keeping her grape juice in since we were kids. And she has had the same picture of a smiling kid on her fridge for some time. On the back of her door was the frog-like creation that cousin Matt drew with crayon when he was a boy. My favorite memory of her and grandpa was that there was always something growing there on the place. I was always sad to see Riley Court in the place of the orchards and grape vines. Undeterred, she grew her tomatoes under the pine tree in her front yard even last year. The little plants under the glass bowl on top of the deep freeze, and of course, the rose floating in a bowl of water----next to a glass of grape juice. The love of gardening and plants that I have is shared by my brothers and is easily traced to my sweet grandma. I had the opportunity to spend some time reminiscing with her and we went up stairs together a few years ago. I loved sleeping upstairs when we would visit and looking out those upstairs windows at the traffic on 5th south. She offered me some old books which were up there,and they are treasures. It was up in that very attic that I learned to tie shoelaces (from Lyrad, I think). One funny thing, I had this vision when I was just a little kid that I was going to marry Shellee and move into that house...I loved that place, from the time I was little until now. We would sit by the flowers on that sloping lawn to the north (now under a retaining wall) and watch the traffic roll by. I think I had this "dream" because her place was a place where I always felt warm and welcome because grandma made it that way. I will really miss her sweetness and the simplicity with which she maintained her house and life. I hope I can live my life with the dignity and grace she showed.
Some thoughts from Cory..
She was always such a sweet grandma - I have many fond memories of her fresh cookies and grape juice she always made for us, and mush and plain noodles with butter on them (which I still make often). She loved gardening and enjoyed getting out. She lived a very good life- I'm sure she's in a peaceful, beautiful place..
And from Lyrad….
My best memories of Grandma Mary are from childhood. After a long hot drive across Nevada it was wonderful to get out and stretch our legs with a tour around Kelly’s garden and orchard. It was always remarkable to me how little their home changed from year to year. As a child, their home was a place of mystery—wondering why you had to reach through a hole in the wall to turn on lights, why you’d carry a faucet handle from tap to tap, what false teeth were for, and how adults could look at albums full of pictures of the same things for hours. I loved to go up the creaky stairs to explore the attic and look out the window at the cars whizzing by, then go down the stairs in the greenhouse to the musty cellar and lie on that soft bed in the cool air. Grandma never seemed to stop moving—wiping clean counters, rearranging the tables, cutting up fruit, and seeing to everyone’s comfort. I marveled at her simple, frugal ways, and still think of her when I hum to myself absent-mindedly or feel the compulsive urge to grow a few vegetables. Her work ethic and concern for others are contributions to a heritage we all can be proud of.
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Comments from Shirley Riley's recollection, Nov 1996: Ray and Lottie were active in the Church, but all of their kids were inactive. Kelly said he felt too forced into religion. Kelly had been ordained an Elder before moving to Altonah. Kelly had a rather rigid personality. He always wore striped overalls, and once they couldn't find new ones on UT, and his wore out after many mendings. They wrote to CA and Shirley found and sent him two pairs, but he would not wear them because they were Paul's stripes (slightly wider). Grandma Tomasini got pregnant by a married man and left Italy to prevent disgracing her family. Her brother, Bernardo, had come to America first and lived with a Mexican woman. He was supposed to send for his wife and kids from Italy, but when Domenica learned he had no intention of doing so she spilled the beans and there were hard feelings afterwards. Grandma T. worked hard in a boarding home in Santa Maria doing laundry and cooking. She met Ernesto while he was a fireman in San Francisco. Grandma T's father had a dirt-floor one-room with a divider in the middle. The family lived in one half and their cow (their only possession) in the other. Mary Tomasini almost died of a ruptured appendix at age 14 and went to LDS Hospital. A Miss Thatcher paid her hospital bills and then Mary went to live with her as ananny/maid until she was married. Shirley thinks that Mary's mannerisms are much more like Miss Thatcher's than her siblings, who are very warm, loving, and emotional. Jim, Mary Ann, and Ernest never attended church growing up. Shirley and Ernie were childhood sweethearts, and she told him she wanted to marry a priesthood holder. Ernie got involved with the church while @ Snow College when working for a Bishop Hansen, though he had been baptized as a youth in a "roundup" and attended MIA dances. Shirley was baptized in a cold irrigation ditch on her birthday.She and Ernie were married when my mom was 19, on 8 sep 61.
Sometimes Kel and Mary would go for weeks without speaking to each other, and the tension was hard for the kids. Aunt Etta (Wilford McConkie's sister) hated Lawrence Welk, but always watched his show and carried on about how ridiculous it was. She did a lot of geneology, but never turned it in to the Church because she didn't want Oscar's family to have access to it. There was some dispute between branches of the McConkie family about who had really been the first wife in a ploygamist family.
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