In the early 1800's the Greco family was domicile in Palermo Sicily and it has proved difficult to get people to open up and talk about their past. The fact that Palermo was the home of the Mafia may have something to do with this? The earliest entry I have so far for the family is the parents of the couple below. They were Anthony Greco and his wife Jane, formerly Cannelli. The picture below left, is of Giacomo Greco and his young wife Saveria (nee Miragliotta). Giacomo was born in Palermo and emigrated to the USA late in 1800 to try to find a better life for his family there. He later returned to Sicily and married Saveria who was 13 years old, in 1900. Saveria was born in Naso near Capo D'Orlando in Sicily. He then went back to the USA in May 1904, Saveria was to follow him in April 1905. She was then 18 years old. 

They raised 5 boys Antonio, Guiseppe, Pietro, Francesco and Giacomino and 4 girls, Adelina, Lina, Domenica and Maria. They both died in Monmouth New Jersey USA, he in May 1965 and she at age 101 in Sept  1988.

Antonio (Tony) Greco was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA in Aug. 1910. In 1912 the family returned to Sicily where Tony grew up to age 13yrs. At that time he was sent to Australia to his uncle Cono Miragliotta to start work, in order to send money back home to the family. The link between the Greco family and the Troy family came about when Tony met and married Elizabeth (Bessie) Troy in Geraldton in July 1933. (See the Troy Family Page).  Times were very hard during these years and the family lived in various mining towns, such as Gwalia and Kalgoorlie. Tony was interned as an alien in Australia during the world war two, years. Pictured right are Bessie and Tony in 1958.

They produced 9 children, 5 girls, Marie, Vera, Nancy, Betty and Antonia (Toni), and 4 boys, Jimmy, Frankie, Raymond and Peter. Peter tragically died in his first year. In those years Tony was a leading Cray-fisherman and line fisherman in and around Geraldton WA.

Marie married Martin Van der Oord, a former deckhand on Tony's boat, they in turn had a boy and a girl, David and Elizabeth. Vera, who had joined the Royal Aust. Navy, met and married Maurie Thompson of Bridgetown WA. (See the Thompson Family page). This was the first link also between the 2 family's. Nancy married John Doust another local fisherman, Betty married Wally Gammie in a double wedding with Maurie & Vera in 1959 and Toni is married to Giuseppe (Joe) Di Martino in Samson near Fremantle WA. Frankie and Jimmy still live in Geraldton, their families grown up now, Raymond lives in Samson near Fremantle also, with wife Maire from Tipperary in Ireland.

All the sons and daughters of Tony and Bessie are pictured left, Betty, Vera, Raymond, Frankie, Jimmy, Marie, Nancy and Toni outside St. Xaviers Church in Geraldton. WA. We were attending our niece Sandra's wedding, many of the family were married here.

Unfortunately for all, their mother Bessie passed away on the 11th December 1962 and father Tony on 25th December 1999.

All the brothers and sisters have families of their own, some of which have married and started the next generation of the Greco family.

Giuseppe (Uncle Joe) Greco died in Fremantle in Feb. 1987. Joe was a brother of Tony and Pietro (Uncle Peter) shown here dancing with his mother Saveria at her 100th birthday party at Long Branch California in the US. 

Peter lived in Fremantle for many years before going to the USA. Saveria a diminutive but strong lady was only 4ft 10" tall but lived to 101 years, passing away in Sept.1988 after raising 9 children in tough conditions. Also present at her memorable birthday party were her Grandson Tony Schafer and Grand-daughter Sherry shown here below. She finally passed away in a nursing home in Tinton Falls. USA.

Not many of the family are now still with us, but none will be forgotten, these were people who came to Australia to start a new life and become Australians. They were a hard working and produced good families who made the most of their new chance in life.

I hope in years to come, family members will discover this website and realise the efforts of these wonderful people, all went into making Australia a far better place.