CAUSES OF DEATH

Elizabeth DeGennaro
born September 13, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY
died February 28, 1931 at Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, age 3 years

Father: Louis DeGennaro (1890-1977)
Mother: Anna Lanzaro (1889-1977)

Cause of death: Mastoiditis / Left Otitis Media Purulent

Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull that is located behind the ear. It is usually caused by untreated middle ear infection (in elizabeth's case, left otitis media purulent means middle ear infection in the left ear) and was a leading cause of child mortality in the early part of the 20th Century. With the development of antibiotics, mastoiditis became quite rare in developed countries. If untreated, the infection can spread to surrounding structures, including the brain, causing serious complications. Elizabeth's death certificate states the contributory factor leading to her death was Pneumococcal meningitis, an infection that causes swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Unfortunately for little Elizabeth and her family, antibiotics weren't invented until the 1940's.

Elizabeth, the last child born to Louis and Anna, was living with her parents at 917 Homecrest Court, in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, just north of Coney Island when she died. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.

LANZARA-LANZARO FAMILY WEBPAGE