As we explore our shared history and grow our family tree on this website, preserving our heritage is always at the heart of what we do. However, I’ve realized lately that understanding our past is about more than just dates, places, and names; it’s also about understanding the health history encoded in our genes. Over the years I have had several cousins ask about possible inherited health issues or diseases experienced by descendants of the Genetti family line. Since I am not a health expert and I believe in some cases it is necessary to keep this information confidential, I was at a loss to offer any advice or share their inquiry on our website.
I wanted to share a personal experience with you. Recently, I decided to go through my healthcare provider for genetic medical testing. The results were eye-opening: I discovered that I carry one gene mutation for hereditary hemochromatosis. Although I don’t know which side of the family I inherited this mutation from and it does not medically impact me, it could seriously impact another cousin if they inherit two copies of this mutation – one from their mother and one from their father.
While this means I am just a “carrier,” it is a powerful reminder that our DNA is a roadmap for our family’s health. This discovery led me to a wonderful nonprofit called ConnectMyVariant. Their mission is “Prevention through Connection,” and their approach is centered on the idea that by sharing this info, we can significantly reduce the risk of inherited conditions for our entire extended family.
I’ve already personally entered my mutation into the free ConnectMyVariant database. I did this because discovering a genetic variant in one person provides crucial health information for potentially dozens of relatives—parents, siblings, and all of us cousins!
Why I’m Using ConnectMyVariant (and why you might too):
Bridging the Gap: It provides a unique space for family members who share a specific variant to connect and support one another.
Free Support: They even offer free help for anyone who registers to reach out to relatives once a variant is known, which I know can feel daunting.
Education: You can see how this works through their Storybook or find answers to privacy questions in their FAQs.
A Proactive Step for Us All Just as understanding our ancestry empowers us, knowing our family’s health history can be life-changing. I strongly encourage everyone to consider speaking with a healthcare professional about genetic testing. It only requires a simple cheek swab and nothing else. If you do uncover a specific variant, please consider joining me in the ConnectMyVariant database.
By sharing this information securely, you aren’t just learning for yourself; you’re creating a potential lifeline for another cousin who might be unaware of their risks. You could be giving a relative—perhaps someone we only know as a name on a chart—the gift of early knowledge and preventative care.
Let’s make sure our genealogy is a tool that helps shape a healthier future for all of us and the generations to come.
The Genetti family reunion is seven months away, and there’s no better time to strengthen our branches before we meet in person! One of the most exciting ways we’ve been uncovering our shared history is through Ancestry.com.
Did you know that many Genetti descendants have already taken the test? When you join the pool, you aren’t just looking at ethnicity percentages—you’re finding exact matches with cousins you might not even know yet. It’s a fantastic way to break the ice and start sharing stories before the big event.
Flash Sale Alert: If you haven’t tested yet, now is the perfect moment. Ancestry is currently running a massive sale with kits for just $34. You can find this deal directly on the AncestryDNA shop page. This deal only lasts until March 18 at 10 am ET, so be sure to grab yours soon to ensure your results are ready by the reunion!
Why DNA Testing Matters Beyond the thrill of discovery, DNA testing offers a lasting gift for our family. It provides scientific clarity to our oral traditions, helping us confirm genealogical links and bridge gaps in our paper trail. For current generations, it fosters a deeper sense of identity and belonging; for future generations, it ensures that the Genetti legacy is preserved in a tangible, reachable way.
I first tested with Ancestry in 2012. Over the years I have connected with many unknown cousins through my AncestryDNA test. I’ve also found secrets hiding in our DNA! I never quite know what I will find every time I check my results.
Let’s fill in the gaps of our family tree together!
We now have a page set-up on our Genetti Family website with Reunion News! The dates are Oct. 16-18, hosted by Gus Genetti and Family, to be held at Genetti Best Western Plus Center City, Wilkes-Barre, PA. As more details are made available, I will be posting them to our website, as a blog post and to our private Facebook family group page. Hope to see everyone in October! Click here to view Genetti Runion 2026 Page.
As many living descendants of the Genetti family are second-, third-, and fourth-generation Americans who have moved from the original states where our forebearers settled, you may not know which branch of the family tree you belong to.
First, it is important to remember that the Genetti family traces its roots back to the village of Castelfondo, Italy, as early as 1265. Our first ancestors were a father named Giovanni (Johan in German) and his sons. According to the ancient text of the Codex Cles from 1307 and a later German journal, Neues Jahrbuch, published in 1899, the family was granted the title of “freeman” by the ruling Tyrolean Prince-Bishop. This established the family surname and the beginning of the Genetti tree. However, since official church documentation of births, marriages, and deaths was not part of Catholic practice until the last half of the 1400s, the Genetti family had 200 years of growth. As a result, the family split into several different branches. Today, there are at least four or five distinctly different Genetti family lines living in Italy, other European countries, the United States, and South America. Most of the Genetti family ancestors who immigrated to the United States belong to our specific branch of the larger ancient tree, which traces its first documented ancestor to Pietro Genetti of Melango, born sometime in the mid-1400s. (FYI: Melango is the ancient name for Castelfondo.)
The journey to the Americas began in 1867 with the arrival of Costantino (August) Genetti (1842–1914). Costantino was the first documented immigrant from our family tree to leave Castelfondo, settling and raising his family in Collinsville, Illinois. Other family members soon joined their older brother in Illinois, working in the miners or becoming farmers. During the following decades, Genetti cousins from different branches established their own families, businesses, and culture in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Wyoming, and Argentina.
The color-coded tree accompanying this blog post illustrates our original immigrant ancestors and the locations where they settled. Note the maps on the right side: the states colored in Turquoise represent Genetti families from other lineages, distantly related prior to the mid-1400s and therefore not on our specific tree. The states in Yellow (New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) indicate a Genetti family not related to ours at all; their family originated in a different part of Italy and changed their surname from Genitti to Genetti upon arrival. You can read about them in my 2015 blog post, “A Case of Mistaken Identity!”.
Who were our first ancestors to settle in each state?
Pennsylvania:Cosma Damiano Genetti arrived in 1877 with two sisters, Angela Maddalena and Anna Maria. He married and began his family, returning to Castelfondo in 1888 where he and his growing family lived until he once again embarked for Pennsylvania in 1902. In 1887, Damiano’s parents, Leone and Cattarina, made the journey with their 20 year old son Angelo Raffaele. By 1906, Damiano brought over his entire family of four sons and five daughters, and established his family meat business in Hazleton. Over the years he traveled back and forth from Hazleton, PA to Castelfondo several times. On one shipboard trip he accompanied his youngest sister Erminia Enrica across the ocean in 1890. Eventually Damiano return in his later years to his beloved Alpine village while the rest of his family remained in Hazleton. He died there in 1944. Notable arrivals to Pennsylvania from other branches of the Genetti tree included brothers Fortunato Valentino (arrived 1898) and Narciso (arrived 1899), as well as Dionigio and Faustino Genetti, who settled in Nuremberg and Black Creek in the early 1920s.
Illinois:Costantino (August) Isidoro Francesco Genetti arrived in 1867. He was followed by brothers Nicolo Cipriano in 1872 and Vigilio (William) in 1888. Two sisters, Rachele Arcangela and Domenica Geltrude, also joined their brothers in Illinois. Nicolo Cipriano returned to Castelfondo after working several years in the mines. But brother Vigilio remained, married twice and raised a large blended family. Their father, Cipriano, eventually arrived shortly before his death in 1890. Many descendants of this family still reside in Collinsville, Illinois and neighboring communities.
Wyoming:Angelo Genetti first traveled to Rock Springs in 1887 to work the coal mines before returning to Tyrol in 1892. His four sons—Francesco (Frank), Enrico, Ermenegildo (Herman/Joe), and Dominico—later settled in Wyoming between 1910 and 1918. You can read an entertaining biography written by Ermenegildo (Herman) on our website about early life in southwestern Wyoming, entitled: Herman’s Howlings, click here. Distant cousins to the three earlier mentioned Genetti siblings, brothers Pietro (arrived 1900) and Lodovico Genetti (arrived 1905) traveled to Wyoming. They were actually cousins of the Michigan brothers, but decided Wyoming would be their home rather than Michigan. The brothers settled in Superior and Rock Springs where they both raised their families.
Michigan:Angelo Pietro Genetti settled in Bessemer in 1899, followed by brothers Camillo Gaetano Andrea (arrived 1907) and Gabriele Arcangelo (arrived 1909). By 1905 Enrico Giovanni Battista and his brother Germano Romedio, made Ironwood, Michigan their home. Enrico and Germano were 3rd cousins to Angelo, Camillo and Gabriele. Unfortunately Germano eventually decided to return to Castelfondo. Due to his young age, he was required to serve in the Austrian military forces and was immediately drafted into the army to fight in World War I. He lost his life somewhere on the Russian Front in 1917.
Today, descendants of these original Genetti ancestors are spread across the globe. Rather than just miners and farmers, they are now business owners, professionals, educators, artists, distinguished military personnel and leaders in their communities.
Conclusion
Though our ancestors left the Alpine shadows of Castelfondo over a century ago, the “freeman” spirit they carried remains the bedrock of our family today. Whether your branch took root in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, the prairies of Wyoming, or the farms of Illinois, we are all part of a 700-year-old story that continues to grow with every new generation. By documenting these names and dates, we ensure that while we may move far from our original settlements, we never lose the way back to our shared heritage.
Are you interested in having your own original Genetti Family Tree hanging on your wall? You can purchase a poster of this beautiful tree commissioned by Maria Genetti of Castelfondo in our online Genetti Family Shop, just click here. Please note: due to the small type and the many ancestors listed on the tree, we recommend to purchase the following sizes: Medium (31.2 in x 23.4 in) or Large (44.1 in x 33.1 in) as the text on smaller sized posters is unreadable.
**Commissions from the sale of items in the Genetti Family Shop support upkeep of this website and further genealogical research.
We say goodbye to our cousin Marybeth Allan (nee: Genetti), a descendant of the Illinois family, who passed away on December 29, 2025.
Marybeth Allan, of Edwardsville, Illinois, was born on January 15, 1946, in East St. Louis, Illinois, and passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 29, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, after a short but courageous battle with aggressive lung cancer.
Marybeth’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughter, Bobbie (Timothy) Madura of Troy, Illinois; her granddaughters, Caitlyn (Shane) Knight-Daiss of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Makita (Michael) Trexler of Troy, Illinois; and her adored great-grandchildren, Oliver, Penelope, and Oscar.
She was the great-granddaughter of Costantino (August) Genetti (1842-1914) and Rosina Wahl Hummerer Kermeier (1842-1926). Born in Castelfondo, Costantino was the first Genetti to immigrate to the United States as a young man in 1867. He and Rosina married in 1868, settling in Collinsville, Illinois and later purchased a farm in Webster, Missouri. Marybeth is the granddaughter of their son Constantine (August) Genetti (1874-1963) and Mary Osredkar (1878-1958).
Hello Cousins! I have exciting news! Gus Genetti and family have graciously volunteered to host a Genetti Family Reunion sometime this fall at one of Gus Genetti’s hotels in Pennsylvania. It will be a weekend event, dates and times to be announced soon. I am in the process of compiling an email list for invites. If you would like to be included on the list, please me a private message through the Contact page of this website. Include your name, email address and the branch of the Genetti family you descend from (Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Wyoming, Italy). Thank you and look forward to your response!
Did you know we have many talented artists, authors and musicians in our family? You can find listings and links for many of them in the Business Directory page of our family website. If you’re looking for a special holiday gift this year, consider a book or a piece of art by one of our creative Genetti family members.
One such descendant is our cousin and author Carol Genetti Ochadleus. The great-granddaughter of Vigilio Genetti and Domenica Maria Dolzadelli of the Missouri/Illinois branch of the family, Carol is the author of two books – a novel and a children’s book.
Recipient of several book awards, “Death and Other Lies” is a spine-tingling who-done-it. Here is the book description: When his girlfriend disappears, a young man is willing to sacrifice everything to find her. In desperation when the police can find no proof she even exists, he follows a slim clue which takes him from the U.S. to Great Britain and Wales. After a near-fatal accident, he awakes in a Welsh hospital with no memory of who he is or why he is there and accused of being part of a heinous plot for mass murder. Entrapped in a world of spies and terrorists, he is expendable, collateral damage, simply because he fell in love with a beautiful woman.
Available at select bookstores and online at Amazon, you can purchase “Death and Other Lies” as a hardcover, paperback or eBook.
Carol’s second tome, “Grandma Bears’ Picnic” is a children’s storybook. Lovingly illustrated, the story describes: “When Grandma Bear breaks her leg, will the First Day of Summer Picnic still happen? The children must find a way to pull together to save their beloved family tradition and honor Grandma Bear all at the same time. It’s a tall order, but with their parents guidance, they find a way to save the day and have the best picnic ever!”
You can find Carol’s charming children’s book on Amazon, available in paperback or hardcover formats.
And here is Carol’s biography: Carol Ochadleus is a published, award-winning novelist and short-story author. Her novel, Death & Other Lies, (originally published by Grey Wolfe Publishing, LLC), is the first book of a Trilogy. It was re-released in 2019 by Zimbell House Publishing. The sequel is in progress. One of her favorite short stories, Colors in the Water, won inclusion in an American Anthology, Ni Bona Na Coroin. Years ago, Carol sold one of her children’s short stories to a youth magazine and her first illustrated children’s book, Grandma Bear’s Picnic was published in 2018. Carol is a retired professional fund-raiser and is active in several writer’s groups. She now devotes her time to writing, her gardens and her fourteen grandchildren. She lives in Washington Township, Michigan, with her husband Don, and English Shepherd Gracee.
Helene Lucy Smith Prehatny (1932-2025)William Arthur McAdoo (1925-2025)
I recently learned two more Genetti descendants have passed on, both in their 90’s. It is always sad when our senior cousins are no longer with us. They are a generation closer to our ancestors and a link to the past. Each member of our family tree who lives a long, fruitful life is a library of stories and memories. When they pass on, we often loose this knowledge and ancestral connection. Here at the Genetti Family Genealogy Project we try to preserve the memory of our cousins, their experiences and their stories through our website, blog and family tree.
We say goodbye to Helene Lucy Smith Prehatny. Born in 1932 in Weston, Pennsylvania, Helene left us on June 30, 2025 at the age of 93. She was the granddaughter of Raffaele (Ralph) Genetti (1867-1949) and Lucia (Lucy) Zambotti (1865-1952). Always smiling, Helene lived an active, full life centered around family, community service and church. She attended most Genetti family reunions with her husband John, and was always a cheery presence. A great supporter of this website, Helene contributed many family photographs to our Photo Gallery, as well as a beautiful memorial tribute to her beloved grandparents and parents – “Family Memories by Helene Smith Prehatny.” She leaves behind a large extended family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To read Helene’s obituary, click here.
Also leaving us this past summer is William “Bill” Arthur McAdoo. Bill was born a century ago in Detroit, Michigan. He passed on just two months shy of his 100th birthday. A family man, Bill and his beloved wife Dolly, raised three children. His extended family included grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed many hobbies and was an active member of his community. Bill was the great-grandson of Costantino (August) Genetti (1842-1914) and Rosina Wahl Hummerer Kermmeier (1842-1926). Costantino was born in our ancestral village of Castelfondo, Tyrol and was the first of the Genetti clan to immigrate to the United States, settling in Collinsville, Illinois. Later in life, the couple purchased a farm in Webster, Missouri. Bill is the grandson of Mary Catherine Genetti (1868-1946) and Antonius Mallman (1860-1905). Click here to read Bill’s obituary.
If any family members or friends of Helene Prehatny or Bill McAdoo would like to share photos or leave a tribute to their loved one on their website memorial page, please feel free to write me through the Contact page on our website. I am happy to include your memories.
Danny William Genetti recently passed away on August 15th, 2025 and was a descendant of the large Genetti clan that settled in Missouri/Illinois. He was the son of David Genetti and Nellie Kesterson and the great-grandson of Costantino (also known as August) Genetti (1842-1914) and Rosina Kermeier (1842-1926). His great-grandfather was born in Castelfondo, Tyrol and was the first Genetti to come to America in 1867. Danny has a large extended family including eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, plus many cousins who still make their home in the Missouri/Illinois area.
We send our sympathies to Danny’s family for the loss of their father, brother, and grandfather.
We say goodbye to our cousin Conrad George Reich who passed away on April 9th. Conrad was the son of Lewis Joseph Reich (1908-2003) and Elizabeth Catherine Zambotti (1912-1995). He was the grandson of Pietro Zambotti (1881-1966) and Ottilia Genetti (1890-1985).
Conrad was a great friend of our family website, sharing many photos and interesting memorabilia. You can find his many contributions sprinkled throughout the pages of The Genetti Family Genealogy Project. Since the beginning of this website way back in 2014, Conrad emailed me every few months with a family tidbit he found amongst his files. It was always a surprise to open his emails. Sometimes I received a photo, occasionally it was some program or directory from a by-gone era. Last year I found in my mailbox a complete booklet for Mt. Carmel Church Centennial History 1905-2005. And sometimes Conrad just sent me a question. The last email I received from him was asking the street address for Casa Genetti in Castelfondo because he wanted to find the home on Google Maps streetview.
Farewell Cousin Conrad! I’m sure you will be missed by many.
The Genetti Family Genealogy Project 