Baldi Funeral Home
Circa 1900
Charles Carmine Antonio Baldi came to America in 1876 at the young age of 14 from the small town of Cilento di Castelnuovo, Salerno Province. The oldest of his siblings he helped bring three brothers Ferdinando, Virgilio, Alfonso and one sister Grazia to his new country.
The Funeral Home is believed to have opened sometime around the turn of the century.Alfonso, his youngest brother helped manage the home in its later years.
The Baldi Brothers owned and operated a funeral home, organized a bank, owned a daily Italian newspaper, founded a coal yard and a real estate and insurance business. CCA Baldi was the first immigrant named to the Philadelphia School Board and served on that board until his death in 1930. In 1976 the city of Philadelphia named a middle school after him to commemorate his service in education.
A Legacy of Family, Service, and Dedication to Community
The roots of Baldi Funeral Home run deep in the heart of Philadelphia’s immigrant story. In 1876, at just 14 years old, Charles Carmine Antonio (C.C.A.) Baldi arrived in America from the small town of Cilento di Castelnuovo in the Salerno province of Italy. As the eldest of his siblings, he would go on to bring his brothers Ferdinando, Virgilio, Alfonso, and sister Grazia to join him in his new homeland.
Together, the Baldi Brothers became a powerhouse of entrepreneurship in South Philadelphia’s growing Italian-American community. Over the years, they established and operated a wide range of businesses, including:
- A funeral home (opened around 1900)
- A coal yard
- A real estate and insurance firm
- An Italian-language daily newspaper L’Opinione
- A neighborhood bank
The funeral home, one of their earliest ventures, served as a place of comfort and tradition for countless families. Alfonso Baldi, the youngest brother, would later manage the funeral home during its most formative years.
C.C.A. Baldi wasn’t just a businessman—he was a civic leader. A trailblazer for Italian immigrants, he became the first immigrant appointed to the Philadelphia School Board, serving as Superintendent until his death in 1930. In honor of his contributions to education and public service, the City of Philadelphia named Baldi Middle School after him in 1976.
A Century Later…
With over 100 years of continuous service, Baldi Funeral Home remains a cornerstone of the Philadelphia community—rooted in tradition, built on family, and committed to honoring every life with dignity, respect, and care.
