Hello family! Our Genetti Reunion was a great success. Cousin Maureen Donovan said it the best: “lots of fun, food and family.” It was a busy weekend with much sharing and laughter. Our many thanks to Gus Genetti for pulling it all together and for his gracious generosity.
I now have all of our reunion photos on the family website, but I need your help. Each photo has a numbered caption with names of those pictured. But there were a few names missing. If you see someone you know who is not labeled, please message me with the photo number and their name.
A hidden world exists right beneath the familiar streets of our hometown. A newly released YouTube documentary, The Secrets Beneath Hazleton: Exploring a City Built Over Abandoned Mines, dives into the subterranean labyrinth that made the city an industrial powerhouse.
For the Genetti family of Pennsylvania, Hazleton is much more than a spot on the map—it is the cornerstone of our American story. It is the city where our immigrant ancestors first put down roots, where generations of us (including myself!) were born, and where so many descendants still live today.
This short film offers a fascinating, rarely seen perspective on how Hazleton was forged into a booming hub by the sheer grit of early immigrants. Watching the history of the hard coal era unfold, it is impossible not to think of our own ancestors who toiled in those very anthracite mines to carve out a future for their families. It is a brilliant history lesson and a powerful, visual tribute to the enduring legacy of Hazletonians.
Announcing Our Saturday Evening Guest Speaker: Tim Genetti!
As we count down the days to our highly anticipated Genetti Family Reunion this October 16-18 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, I am thrilled to share an exciting update about our Saturday evening program.
We are honored to announce that our guest speaker for Saturday night will be none other than Tim Genetti! A lifelong resident of Hazleton, PA, Tim brings a wealth of local knowledge, business acumen, and community pride to our gathering. He serves as the President of his family’s commercial real estate businesses and has an exceptional record of civic leadership. Tim is a past president of the Rotary Club of Hazleton, has twice been honored as Rotarian of the Year, and is a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Citizen Award. We are incredibly fortunate to have him address us, and I know his words will be a highlight of our weekend together.
In addition to our Saturday evening program, I’m also excited to share that we will have special viewing rooms set up throughout the weekend. These rooms will be running brand-new family history documentary videos created specially for our 2026 reunion. The events and stories detailed in these videos are factual, fully researched, and verified via official documents and newspaper archives, giving everyone a chance to sit back and watch our rich Genetti heritage come to life.
I can’t wait to share these stories, celebrate our shared roots, and hear Tim speak. See you all soon!
Pack your bags and safe travels! We are so excited to see you in Wilkes-Barre the weekend of October 16–18. Everything is in place for a wonderful time together.
A few quick reminders before you hit the road or head to the airport:
Check-In: Friday afternoon then head over to the Meet-and-Greet Cocktail Reception at 6:00
What to Bring: Bring along any old family photos or keepsakes you’d like to share. We will have a display table set up! Have your phone or camera with you to snap photos with cousins!
Weather: Expect crisp, cool and comfortable conditions with daytime highs typically ranging from the mid-60’s to mid-50’s and overnight lows dropping to around 41 degrees.
If you have any last-minute questions or encounter travel delays, please contact the Genetti Best Western at 570-823-6152. Find all Reunion 2026 info here: https://genettifamily.com/genetti-reunion-2026/
I am looking forward to sharing all of our family history updates with you in person. See you soon!
Fall Foliage at Nay Aug Park in Scranton – The David Wenzel Treehouse
Hello Cousins! October is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to see everyone.
Like me, many of you will be traveling to the reunion from out-of-state. If you are arriving early or staying an extra day after reunion weekend, there is much to explore! To help you play tourist, I’ve put together a handy PDF Guide of historical regional sites and local dining spots (including several suggestions for a healthy bite!).
You can find the link to our Sites and Dining Guide on the Reunion page or by clicking here. Feel free to download and print a copy to take with you.
Mark your calendars, cousins! The highly anticipated 2026 Genetti Family Reunion is officially set, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share the details with you all. It is time to reconnect, celebrate our shared heritage, and make new memories together.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our gracious host, Gus Genetti and family, for welcoming us to their Wilkes-Barre hotel.
Here is everything you need to know to start planning your trip!
When & Where
Dates: Friday, October 16th through Sunday, October 18th, 2026
The hotel is giving us a discounted room rate for family members! Rooms are available at $129 per night (based on double occupancy, with a $10 charge for each additional person).
To book your stay, please call the hotel directly at 570-823-6152 and be sure to ask for the Genetti Family Reunion room block to get our special rate.
Meals & Itinerary
Please print, complete and mail with payment the Meal Reservation Form to secure your dining spots. We have a wonderful weekend of food and fellowship planned:
Friday Evening (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Kick off the weekend with a Welcoming Cocktail Hour, compliments of Gus Genetti!
Saturday Morning: Start the day with a complimentary breakfast.
Saturday Lunch (12:00 Noon): Gather in the Genetti Ballroom for a delicious buffet-style lunch.
Saturday Afternoon: Join us for an engaging afternoon of Family Stories and Presentations. I am especially excited for this portion of the weekend! I will be sharing updates on the family history book documenting our Pennsylvania lineage and presenting some of my recent genealogical research. We will also be diving into a very special, family story about love, loss, intrigue and murder —exploring the fascinating details behind the Illinois mining murders!
Saturday Evening (6:00 PM): Return to the Genetti Ballroom for our main buffet-style dinner and a speaker.
Sunday Morning: Enjoy a final complimentary breakfast and say our warm farewells until next time.
Stay Tuned!
As more reunion information becomes available, we will continue to post updates right here on the website. Please reach out to the Genetti Best Western at 570-823-6152 for any specific questions regarding the venue or your booking.
We cannot wait to see everyone in Wilkes-Barre next October. Safe travels, and let the countdown begin!
I am publishing this short video to offer you a special visual and auditory sneak peek into the comprehensive family history book I am currently researching and writing about the Genetti Family of Pennsylvania.
The video provides a glimpse into our deep Tyrolean roots, starting in the year 1265 with our earliest known ancestor, Arimanne Giovanni (Johann) Magnagnini, who was part of an elite class of free Germanic warriors. It highlights our family’s fascinating journey through the centuries, touching upon the origins of our ancient “Wild Man” heraldry and the resilient spirit that eventually led our ancestors to risk everything for a new life across the sea in America.
I invite you to head over to YouTube to watch this brief introduction, and please stay tuned for more updates as I continue to research and write the story of the Pennsylvania Genetti family. You can also find a link to the video on the Genetti Family Genealogy Project website, located on the Gallery page under Videos.
Hope you enjoy the video. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reviews. And if you so choose, give the video an enthusiastic “thumbs up” and say hello to your cousins in the comment section below the video.
Hello, Genetti Cousins! If you are longing to breathe the crisp alpine air and walk the ancient cobblestone streets where your great-grandparents once stood, we have thrilling news for you. We are proud to announce the publication of a brand-new travel guide: Travel to Castelfondo: Home of Our Ancestors, written by Louise Genetti Roach and just uploaded to our website. This resource is designed specifically for descendants planning a genealogy-based pilgrimage to our beautiful ancestral village in the Val di Non.
Practical Travel Preparation Getting to our semi-isolated alpine paradise takes a little preparation. The guide provides essential advice, like the importance of packing light for cobblestone streets, brushing up on basic Italian, securing an International Driving Permit (IDP), and downloading offline GPS maps to navigate the breathtaking hairpin turns of the Passo Mendola. It also covers the best routes for reaching the valley, such as flying into Milan or Venice and taking a train to nearby Trento or Bolzano.
The original Genetti homestead in Castelfondo, Italy.
Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors The highlight of your trip will be connecting with our family’s heritage. The guide details the exact location of the original Genetti homestead, “Casa Lanci,” located at 55 Via Dante Alighieri. It also guides you to the 16th-century Parish Church of San Nicolò and its adjacent cemetery, where you are sure to recognize many familiar family surnames on the headstones.
Immersive Cultural Experiences For a true taste of local life, the guide explains how to book a tour at the Latteria Sociale di Castelfondo to see how they make their exclusive Monteson cheese. It also highlights when to visit for beautiful seasonal traditions, such as the joyous autumn cattle homecoming (La Desmontegada) or the magical winter Feast of San Nicolò.
Where to Rest and Eat You certainly won’t go hungry in the Val di Non! Learn where to enjoy traditional Nonesi dishes like tortel de patate (fried potato cake) paired with a glass of rare, native Groppello di Revò wine. When it’s time to rest, the guide recommends charming local bed-and-breakfasts and farm stays, such as Mas di Siti and Agritur Belsogno B&B.
We hope this guide inspires you to take the trip of a lifetime. Be sure to check out the full travel guide for all the booking links and resources you need to make your journey a reality. Buon viaggio!
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!
