Elizabeth had a reputation for being mean-spirited. During the final years of her life, she lived with her son, Lee, at his home on the corner Harrison Grade and DuPont Roads, Occidental.

Elizabeth and Joseph had 5 children (4 boys and one girl). The oldest, a boy born in 1864 (one year before their marriage), lived only two years. The youngest, a girl born in 1874, lived only 6 years. The number of children is confirmed by the US census of 1900 in which she declares that she is the mother of 5 children, 3 of which were living in 1900.

Elizabeth and Joseph lived at the southwesterly edge of Gordevio in a small house located a short distance west of the main highway, between the highway and the Maggia River. As of 2005, the house was owned by Dario Chiesa, son of Eri Berguglia Chiesa.

Joe Morelli, Sr. was born on the eastern shore of Lake Como in the town of Lierna, Italy (N 45º57'37.62", E 9º18'24.24"). According to family legend, his father, Giovanni Battista, was married several times and Joe had more than 10 siblings. When he was a young man he fled to Gordevio, Switzerland to escape military service. He married a Swiss woman, and they started raising a family. The life of a smuggler was not what he wanted for his family, so he came to the USA in 1874 to seek a better life. He first came to Eureka, Nevada where he obtained a contract for furnishing charcoal to the miners. Then, in 1883, he moved on to Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California, where he worked at various jobs, and finally as a lumberjack along the tributaries of the lower Russian River from Guerneville to Duncan’s Mills. In 1884, his eldest son, Joe Morelli, Jr. came from Switzerland to join his father in Healdsburg. The rest of the family followed one year later. They sailed from Le Havre, France and arrived in New York on June 29, 1885.

By 1892, they had saved $3,100 to buy an 80-acre parcel of land located about two miles north of Occidental on what is now Morelli Lane. The small house located on the property was built in 1878. During the 8 years from 1892 to 1900, the usable farmland (about 40 acres) was cleared of tan oak and redwoods, and vineyard was planted. The house was enlarged to a 10 bedroom, two-story structure built nearly entirely of redwood, and, to accommodate their expanding family, a second large home was constructed about 100 feet southwest of the main structure. A three-story winery was constructed about 150 feet north of the main house, and a cow barn was constructed about 300 feet northwest of the main house. In about 1912, a large wine celler was added underneath the main house, and in 1921 the house was remodeled.

In order to plant more vineyard, in 1906 they bought a 43 acre parcel located on Harrison Grade Road, about a mile away from the main ranch. A large house and winery were built on the property in 1908. In January, 1910, the Morelli property was apportioned among the three sons by drawing straws. The 43 acre parcel was drawn by Lee Morelli, while Joe Jr. and Tony Morelli each received half of the original 80-acre parcel.

Joe died at 68 from complications following goring by a cow.

Information on Joseph Morelli and Maria Elizabeth Ottolini was obtained from baptism, marriage, & death records on file at the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, Film #1751150, 1751151, & 2144266.