CAUSES OF DEATH

Petronilla Bonifacio Lanzara
born February 6, 1844 in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy
died July 22, 1934 in Morganville, NJ, age 90 years.

Father: Catello Bonifacio (1820-1901)
Mother: Anna Maria Salvato (1818- )

Cause of death: Mitrial Regurgitation

Mitrial regurgitation is a disorder of the heart in which the mitral valve does not close properly when the heart pumps out blood. It is the abnormal leaking of blood from the left ventricle, through the mitral valve, and into the left atrium, when the left ventricle contracts, i.e. there is regurgitation of blood back into the left atrium. MR is the most common form of valvular heart disease. Petronilla had been suffering with this disease since 1925.

Her death certificate cites "Carcinoma of Uterus" as a contributory cause. Carcinoma means cancer of the uterus. Considering her age and heart condition, surgery was out of the question, especially in 1934. She died in the farmhouse in Morganville, her home for 20 years. She was buried in the family plot at St. Jospeh's Cemetery in Keyport, NJ.

LANZARA-LANZARO FAMILY WEBPAGE