Month: October 2015

Cousins, Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

The Passing of a Family Member

by L.Roach • October 28, 2015 • 0 Comments

Sadly, we bring you the news that a family member is no longer with us. Catherine O. Branz LaPorte, passed away on Monday, October 26th. Catherine was the daughter of Henry and Erminia (Erma) Branz, and the granddaughter of Damiano and Oliva Genetti. We have posted Catherine’s obituary on our Tributes Page. You can also find photos of Catherine, contributed by her sister Jean Daly, on our Photograph Page.

Her obituary from Hazleton’s (PA) Standard Speaker is as follows:

Catherine O. LaPorte, 92, of Freeland passed away Monday, October 26th 2015, at Butler Valley Manor, Drums, Pennsylvania.

Born in Freeland, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Erma (Genetti) Branz.

She had previously been employed in sales by Casters Floral Shop, White Haven.

Catherine was a former member of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Freeland, and for many years had served as their choir director.

Currently she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish at St. Ann’s Church, Freeland.

In the 1950s and 1960s she was a Girl Scout leader. Forever active, she was the past president of the Hazleton Women’s Club and the Hazleton Women’s Business Club.

Surviving are her husband of 69 years, Joseph LaPorte, at home; a son, Joseph LaPorte and wife, Mary, Macungie; a daughter, Judith Tomari and husband, Joseph, Freeland; a sister, Regina Daly, Waterbury, Conn.; grandchildren, Gioia Tomari Castiglione and husband, Charles, Freeland; Lea Tomari Iorio and husband, Joseph, Bethlehem; Anthony LaPorte and wife, Jamie, Slatedale; Andrew LaPorte, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Michael Reese, Macungie. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Abrielle Castiglione, Lissandra Castiglione and Domenic Iorio.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Parish at St. Ann’s Church, Freeland, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery, Drums.

Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.

McHugh-Wilczek Funeral Home, 249 Centre St., Freeland, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations be made to the Immaculate Conception Parish at St. Ann’s Church, 898 Centre St., Freeland, PA 18224.

Cousins, Family News, Genetti Family

More Cousins on the Photography Page

by L.Roach • October 28, 2015 • 0 Comments

Thank you Jean Branz Daly for sharing another wonderful memory! This happy gathering of cousins probably took place sometime in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s.

From left to right: Catherine Branz LaPorte (1923-2015: daughter of Erma Genetti and Henry Branz), Esther Bott Clark (1915-2011: daughter of Dora Genetti and Verecondo Bott), Betty Zambotti (1912-1995: daughter of Tillie Genetti and Peter Zambotti), Ann Genetti McNelis (1903-2005: daughter of Damiano and Oliva Genetti), Agnes Bott Yorke (1917-1994: daughter of Dora Genetti and Verecondo Bott), and Jean Branz Daly (living: daughter of Erma Genetti and Henry Branz).

All of the ladies were first cousins and the granddaughters of Damiano and Oliva Genetti, with the exception of Ann Genetti McNelis (center with sunglasses). Ann was the youngest child of Damiano and Oliva and was the aunt of this smiling bunch.

A few weeks ago, Jean explained this gathering in an email: “I don’t remember the year but it was with a group from New York. They made polenta in a large garbage can and we also had Tyrolean sausage. It was a wonderful day!”

Thank you Jean, for once again contributing to our Photograph Page. Please visit the Gallery Section of our website for more family stories, photos and memories!

Recent News: We extend our sympathies to the families of Jean and Catherine Branz. On Monday, October 26th, Jean’s sister – Catherine Branz LaPorte, passed away at the age of 92 after a brief illness. We are so sorry that another family member is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time of sadness.

Ancestors, Cousins, Family History, Family Stories, Family Trees, Genetti Family

Lots More Cousins!

by L.Roach • October 21, 2015 • 0 Comments

Dora Genetti Bott (1889-1971) being crowned the first “Polenta Queen” by The Tirolesi Alpini Club of Hazleton, PA –
Sept. 7, 1970.

There’s so much happening at The Genetti Family Genealogy Project! Lots of new connections, lots of new cousins!

Welcome to new cousin Jennifer Liptok and her family. Jennifer found me two weeks ago on Ancestry.com while she was researching her maternal roots. I maintain a private tree on that website for both sides of my family. Because it is private, the tree cannot be accessed by the general public. When Jennifer did a search on Ancestry for her Nonna’s family, a ton of suggestions pointed to my private tree. She sent a message asking if I had info or photos of her great-grandmother’s family and would I share them with her.

Lol … Jennifer certainly connected with the right person! Her bisnonna (great-grandmother) was Addorlorata Erminia Genetti Bott (1889-1971) – also known as Dora, eldest daughter of Damiano and Oliva Genetti. Dora was my grandfather’s sister and my great-aunt. That makes Jennifer my 2nd cousin, once removed. I was thrilled to meet a new cousin, and of course, pointed her directly to The Genetti Family Genealogy Project. Her great-grandmother, Dora, shows up in many photos on our website. Plus I have a good amount of information on Dora as part of my own ancestral research.

Since Jennifer’s family is a direct descendant of my family line, all of her mother’s side of the family has been documented on the private Genetti family tree that I maintain offline. I already knew the name of her sibling, parents and grandparents!

By-the-way, the names and birth dates of all living descendants are noted on the online Family Tree simply as “living”. No private information of living family members is published on our website. The master family tree that I maintain on a separate hard drive, contains vital stats for descendants of the family – both alive and deceased. I do my best to keep this up-to-date, so that our lineage will be passed down to future generations. If any family member would like a digital printout from this private tree, contact me at info.genetti.family@gmail.com and I will generate a Descendant’s Report for you. This type of report is helpful in researching your direct family line (4 or 5 generations) as well as finding your living cousins.

Thank you for contacting us Jennifer. I hope our family website helps with your ancestral research.

Watch for more cousin stories next week!

See photos of Dora Genetti Bott on our Photograph Page.

Also visit the Family Page for Damiano and Oliva Genetti to see Dora with her siblings and parents.

Genetti Shop, Gifts

It’s a Sale on Kid’s Stuff!

by L.Roach • October 20, 2015 • 0 Comments

Hey everyone! This is a quick post to let you know our supplier, Café Press, is having a flash sale on baby products! Wow – it’s a whopping 25% off on all baby and toddler products! But you have to hurry – the sale ends at midnight (Pacific Time) tomorrow, October 21st!

If you have a little cutie on your gift list, now is the time to buy from our new Kids! section in the Genetti Family Shop. The designs are adorable and you can’t beat the discount of 25% off!

To receive your discount on all toddler and baby items, just use the coupon code BABYCRAZY when you checkout of the Café Press shopping cart.

Click here to Shop NOW!

Books, Family Trees, Genetti Shop, Gifts

The Genetti Shop is New and Improved!

by L.Roach • October 14, 2015 • 0 Comments

Mug with Genetti coat-of-arms in Old World type.

Wow, not sure what got into me, but I have spent the last two weeks on a creative binge!

I decided that the Genetti Shop on our website needed to be refurbished and expanded. There are five generations of our family alive and kicking! I realized we needed new designs and products that appealed to everyone – from great-grandparents to infants! So I settled in and got the job done.

The result – our shop now has dozens of new items sporting seven new designs, lots more books and a new fine art section! The Shop page itself is now easier to maneuver, with better product photos and links.

Here you’ll find direct links to: Drinkware, Men’s Wear, Women’s Wear, Kids!, Hats, Travel Accessories, Stationery, Cool Stuff!, Techie Accessories and Christmas ornaments.

Kids!

Ten new books about Tyrolean culture, travel and food have been added to the Family Bookstore!

And our fine art section (family trees and coat-of-arm prints) has been totally updated with new photos and products.

With Christmas right around the corner, why not visit the Genetti Family Shop for an amazing selection of wares that reflect your personal heritage. (I’ve already placed my Christmas order and it should arrive by next week!)

And remember, our suppliers: Cafe Press, Redbubble and Amazon all offer global shipping!

Antique Genetti Coat-of-Arms

Shop now!

Your purchase from our Family Shop helps with the cost and upkeep of this website, as well as supports ongoing genealogy research. Mille grazie!