On March 6,1916, the Italian Society of the Immaculate Conception was organized by eight Charter Members of the community: Anthony Loiacano, Gasper P. Maurigi, John Benigno, Sr., Ambrose Marshall Chiniche, Lukey Marengo, August Schiro, Andrew Scafidi and Joseph DiBenedetto. The purpose of the society was the mutual aid of its members. The Society chose Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, as its patron and protectress. As a member, each person had a spiritual duty to attend Mass together each year on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dressed in a suit and tie and proudly displaying the Italian Society banner as they processed into church.

The Society met once a month in its early years of existence and dues were $1.25 per month. As an added benefit of belonging, members had a personal doctor available to them. This benefit continued until 1969.
In 1931, the Society began construction of a large tomb at St. Mary Cemetery.

Members or any of their family members still living at home were offered the privilege of burial in this new tomb which quickly became known as the Italian Society Tomb. The tomb was built by local contractors, Garcia & Carr, and was located on the front rows of today’s Section S5 and is prominently visible from Necaise Avenue.

The tomb featured a domed roof with a central chamber displaying a religious statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Built on both sides of this chamber are the receiving vaults for current burials. At the base of the tomb on either side are repository vaults to facilitate future demands. Engraved on the large stone monument to the right of the tomb are the names of those Society members and their loved ones who are entombed here. Today the Italian Society of the Immaculate Conception has a 60-person membership and many are descendants of its charter organizers and former members.