Veronica Myra (Collins) Centanni (1902 - 1967)

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1 Jan 1967 at age 64 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA

Biography of Myra COLLINS CENTANNI

Myra Collins Centanni was born July 17, 1902 in Louisiana, USA, the daughter of Charles E. Collins and his wife Anna C. Dugall.

Myra Collins Centanni married Salvador "Sam" Centanni on September 20, 1920 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Myra Collins Centanni was the wife of the Sam Centanni who owned Gold Seal Dairy in New Orleans, and the mother of his children.

Myra Collins Centanni was locally famous for her elaborate collection of Christmas decorations with whic she dazzled the families of New Orleans from 1946-1966 at her home at 4506 Canal Street home in New Orleans.

Myra Collins Centanni added to her Christmas decorations collection every year with large decorations such as those depicting Santa Claus on an elephant or with a rocket ship. Post-WWII families flocked to Canal Street every year to tour her yard and her amazing displays.

Myra Collins Centanni passed away January 1, 1967 at a New Years Eve Party at her home at 4506 Canal Street in New Orleans. Her husband Sam Centanni turned off the Christmas lights, and they were never displayed at her home again. The Christmas lights have been donated to City Park in New Orleans and now belong to the City. Myra is buried in Metairie Cemetery at the north end of Canal Street with her husband Sam who passed away after 1990.

Sources

• Family stories from Centanni family members at Centanni Family Reunions in 1987, 1988, and 2008.

• "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJZ-TS21 : 13 March 2018), Salvatore Centani and Veronica Myra Collins, 20 Sep 1920; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 2,293,416.

• "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJZ-T3XN : 13 March 2018), Salvador Centanni and Veronica Myra Collins, 22 Sep 1920; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 2,293,416.

• "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJZ-HBCW : 13 March 2018), Myra V Collins in entry for Andrew F Gonczi and Rosalie Anna Centanni, 01 Jul 1943; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 2,320,612.

"Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF45-SDS : 10 March 2018), Myra Veronica Collins in entry for Alvin John Mehrtens and Myra Veronica Centanni, 12 Nov 1953; citing Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 4,243,932.

"Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJZ-6YB1 : 13 March 2018), Myra V Collins in entry for Joseph Francis Heman and Mary Yvonne Imelda Centanni, 09 Apr 1947; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 2,321,126.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGY-KCBG : 11 July 2016), Myra Collins Centanni, 1967; Burial, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States of America, Metairie Cemetery; citing record ID 130156205, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• Newspaper articles from the Times-Picayune about the Centanni family Christmas displays.