Category: Family News

Cousins, Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

The Passing of Margaret J. Young Lychock

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Sadly we bring you the news that another Genetti cousin has passed on. Margaret Joyce Young Lychock left this earth on January 19, 2024 after a long illness. She was the daughter of Rita Carmella Genetti (1915-1998) and Arthur Davis Young (1913-1947); and the granddaughter of Leon Genetti (1887-1962) and Angeline Marchetti (1893-1963).

Margaret grew up in Hazleton, Pennsylvania with her twin brother Arthur, but lived most of her adult life in Las Vegas, Nevada. She leaves behind a large family of three children, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial page has been published for Margaret on our family website. You can find it here: https://genettifamily.com/margaret-joyce-young-lychock/

We extend our sympathies to the Lychock family and know that their mother and grandmother will be deeply missed.

If you would like to leave a memory, photo or tribute to Margaret, please send a message through our website contact page or private message me, and your memorial will be added to Margaret’s page.

Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

We Say Goodbye to Jack Genetti

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Another Genetti cousin has passed on this month. John “Jack” Genetti was just shy of his 100th birthday!

Jack was the grandson of one of the original Genetti brothers who settled in Illinois. A second generation American, Jack was the son of John Baptiste Genetti (1890-1972) and Julia Freida Rolando (1900-1996). He was the grandson of Vigilio Genetti (1852-1932) and Domenica Maria Dolzadelli (1852-1907). Jack’s grandparents made their home in Collinsville, Illinois where many descendants from the Illinois Genetti branch still live today.

Jack had a long, interesting life and his obituary reflects his many interests and charitable endeavors. Our family genealogists will also miss Jack as he provided us on several occasions with valuable historical information about our ancestry. I am sure he will be greatly missed by his large extended family. We send our heartfelt sympathies to Jack’s sisters and many descendants.

You can read Jack’s obituary here: https://genettifamily.com/john-jack-genetti/

Ancestors, Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

The Passing of Gary Wayne Genetti

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Sadly we report the news that another member of the Genetti family has passed away. Gary Wayne Genetti of Marshfield, Missouri left this world on May 10th, 2021 at the age of 76.

A memorial page has been created for Gary Wayne Genetti in the Tributes section of our website. You can read Gary’s memorial here: https://genettifamily.com/gary-wayne-genetti/

Gary was the great-grandson of Costantino (also known as August) and Rosa Genetti. Costantino was born in Castelfondo, Tyrol in 1841 and immigrated to the United States with Rosa in 1868. They were the first members of the extensive Castelfondo Genetti family to leave their village and come to America. The couple, along with Costantino’s brothers and sisters, are considered the founding ancestors of the Illinois branch of the Genetti family.

Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

In Memory of Bill Genetti

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William E. “Bill” Genetti

Being a family genealogist is not always easy. And this is one of those times. I invariably knew the day would arrive when I had to create a memorial page for William “Bill” Genetti. It was a task I hoped would never come.

You see Bill was my family history mentor. When I first began my journey into genealogy back in 2010, Bill was happy to help by sharing his extensive family research files. Over the years, he had gathered information on all of the descendants of the Pennsylvania Genetti family. His files gave me a great jump-start into compiling our extended family tree.

Bill also introduced me to the original Genetti Family Tree – an amazing collection of ancestors presented as a beautiful fine art print. It was another incredible family history gift for a budding genealogist!

In 2014 he cheered me on when I accepted the responsibility of renovating and maintaining our family website. And in the Spring of 2016, Bill asked if I would help him organize a family reunion for that October. I was honored to assist Bill in bringing together cousins from all branches of our family. It was a wonderful reunion that I will always remember.

Louise Genetti Roach and Bill Genetti, 2012 family reunion

Throughout the years, Bill and I shared information via email correspondence and the occasional phone call, sometimes surprising each other with an unexpected family secret that we had uncovered through genetic genealogy or research. Yes, Bill was my genealogy buddy! I will very much miss his insight and generosity, as well as his passion for family history and the honor he brought to our ancestors. Bill will be greatly missed by our family and his Hazleton community. But I know his memory will live on through his many descendants and a lifetime of charitable works.

To my genealogy buddy, I bid you a fond farewell and God speed!

A memorial page has been created for Bill Genetti in the Tributes and Obituaries section of our family website. Please feel free to share your memories in the comments section of that page.

Memorial to William E. “Bill” Genetti: https://genettifamily.com/william-edward-bill-genetti/

Cousins, Family News, Genetti Family, Obituaries

Sad News

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With much sadness I bring you the news that William (Bill) Edward Fox Genetti of Hazleton passed away this morning, May 8th, 2021. A great presence in the Pennsylvania family, Bill was a family man, business owner, genealogist and friend to many. Carrying on the family business from his father, Gus Genetti Sr., Bill was a prominent member of the Hazleton community. Over the years, he brought together many cousins and extended family by hosting reunions at his Genetti establishment.

We offer our thoughts and love to Bill’s wife Pat, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his brother Gus and his family during this difficult time.

A memorial for Bill will be posted on our Tributes and Obituaries Page at a later date.

Family News, Obituaries

Goodbye to Erma Ripple Zambotti

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We say farewell to Erma Zambotti Ripple, the wife of Leo Alex Zambotti, (son of Ottilia Genetti and Pietro Zambotti).

Obituary provided by Legacy.com:

Erma Zambotti, 93, of Hazle Twp. passed away Sunday, November 3, 2019.

Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late Christopher and Mearle Ripple.

Prior to retiring, Erma worked in the local garment industry.

Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, Leo, and six brothers and sisters.

Surviving are her daughter, Judy Malloy, with whom she resided; grandchildren, Erin Madjeska and husband, Alex; and Sean Malloy and wife, Julie; and great-grandchildren, Abby, Lexi and Piper. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. from Fierro Funeral Home, 26 W. Second St., Hazleton.

Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.

 

Cousins, Family News, Obituaries

Farewell to Doris Hudock Kulkusky

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This week I am working on updates for the descendants of Raffaele and Lucia (Zambotti) Genetti. When conducting research, I check vital statistics for each person in a family, making sure their personal information is correct and up-to-date. Yesterday, while sifting through records and newspaper clippings, I found one of our cousins had recently passed away in March of this year.

Doris Hudock Kulkusky was the daughter of Mary Genetti (1901-1992) and Rudolph Hudock (1894-1970); and the granddaughter of Raffaele Genetti (1867-1949) and Lucia Zambotti (1865-1952). I have added Doris’s obituary to our Tributes Page.

Our condolences to her family.

Obituary provided by Sauls Funeral Home:

Doris Kulkusky, age 95, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and formerly of Maywood, New Jersey, died Monday, March 11, 2019 at Hilton Head Hospital.

Mrs. Kulkusky was born on November 30, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Rudolph and Mary Hudock. She grew up in Weston, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Black Creek Township High School where she was a star basketball player and was the Valedictorian of her class. Doris earned her nursing degree in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. She became a nursing supervisor at Jersey City Medical Center and then took time off to raise a family. Doris ultimately served in private practice in Westwood, New Jersey until retirement.

Mrs. Kulkusky is survived by her loving husband of 72 years, Frank Kulkusky, daughter, Diane Barlow; Son-in-Law, Andrew Barlow; son, Robert Kulkusky; and granddaughter, Sabrina Barlow.

Cousins, Family News, Obituaries

Passing of a Cousin

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Regina (Jeanne) Bernadette Genetti Murphy
1924-2019

I am sad to share with you the news that one of our Genetti cousins passed away last evening (October 1st). Born in 1924, Regina (Jeanne) Bernadette Genetti Murphy was ninety-five years old and a first generation Tyrolean American. Jeanne was the daughter of Faustino Genetti and Maria Matilda Turri, both of Castelfondo.

Faustino and Matilda Genetti settled in Mt. Laffee, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania in the early 1920’s where they raised three children. After marrying in 1956, Jeanne made Philadelphia her home. Only recently in 2016 did she reconnect with the Pennsylvania Genetti family. After sending us an email through the family website, Jeanne became a fan of our blog posts with a yearning to learn more about her Tyrolean heritage.

Jeanne’s branch of the Genetti family tree is a distant cousin to my own branch, with Jeanne and Bill Genetti of Hazleton related as half 4th cousins. However, after researching this particular Genetti line in order to add it to our tree, I found that I was also related to Jeanne through a different family (the Battisti family of Cavareno, Val di Non) as a third cousin, once removed. It was a pleasure to correspond with Jeanne during the past three years as she shared her memories with me of a very long and well-lived life.

We send our love and sympathies to Jeanne’s family at this time of sadness.

Family News, Genetti Family

Gus and Val Genetti Are Community Service Recipients

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Congratulations to Gus and Val Genetti of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania! The Luzerne Foundation recently bestowed upon the couple a prestigious Community Service Award for their local philanthropic contributions. Here is the article from The Luzerne Foundation Annual Report:

Val & Gus Genetti: 2018 Mary Bevevino Community Service Award Recipients

From the earliest days of their marriage, Val and Gus Genetti set aside part of their income to help the community. They split their approximately $75-a-week earnings into separate jars: one earmarked for expenses such as groceries, one for baby-sitting services and one for charitable giving. “We have agreed on every gift since the beginning,” said Gus Genetti, president of Genetti Hospitality Group. The couple’s over 50 years long pattern of locally targeted philanthropy has benefited dozens of this area’s nonprofit organizations and life-enhancing projects.

Gus and Val Genetti – who are parents, hotel operators and proud Wilkes-Barre residents – are the recipients of The Luzerne Foundation’s 2018 Mary Bevevino Community Service Award. As The Foundation’s highest tribute, the award annually spotlights people whose “unwavering dedication” has made “a significant positive impact on our community.”

A former nurse, Hazleton native Val Genetti, gravitates to health-related causes. She formerly volunteered with the Red Cross Blood Center and had been on the board of the Catholic Youth Center. She continues to serve on a committee directing funds for Women and Children’s Health Initiatives.

Gus and Val Genetti, left, accept the Mary Bevevino Community Service Award from Luzerne Foundation President & CEO Charles Barber and Board Chairman Mike Weaver at the 2018 annual meeting and reception at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Gus Genetti, also born in Hazleton, repeatedly answers the call to serve. Through the years, he has accepted leadership roles with a range of organizations, including The Luzerne Foundation, the Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club, the Osterhout Free Library, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, the Northeast Pennsylvania Multiple Sclerosis Society, ant the local council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Collectively, the duo’s generosity with their time and “treasure” have enriched lives. That was true when they donated to the area’s United Way precursor; and it remains the case with their support of Wyoming Valley newcomers such as Volunteers in Medicine clinic and CASA of Luzerne County.

The Genettis are the parents of six; they have eight grandchildren. Val and Gus Genetti intend for their family’s philanthropic legacy to continue. They have established two funds administered by The Luzerne Foundation. They also count themselves amoung the estate planners who belong to The Foundation’s Rusty Flack Society, ensuring their tradition of giving will go on and on.

“The giving effort has always been the same (as when we were newly married),” said Gus Genetti. “Only the amounts have changed. We’re able in the autumn of our lives to have the opportunity to give at a higher level.”

Read more about Gus and Val Genetti:

The Luzerne Foundation’s 24th Anniversary Celebration (May 10, 2018)

Times Leader: Genettis honored by Luzerne Foundation for community service (May 11, 2018)

Family News, Obituaries

The Passing of Wilma Jean (Ortigo) Reich

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Wilma Jean (Ortigo) Reich, wife of Lewis Reich II (grandson of Tilly Genetti and Peter Zambotti of Hazleton, PA), passed away this week on February 3, 2018. We send our condolences to the family.

Obituary:

Haughton, LA – A Mass of Christian Burial for Wilma Jean Reich will be 10 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2018 at St. Jude Catholic Church, Benton. Officiating will be Father Karl Daigle. Interment will follow at Haughton Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City.

Wilma Jean was born August 19, 1954 in Shreveport to Vernice and Polly Ortigo and died February 3, 2018 in Shreveport. She retired as a sonographer from the medical field. Wilma Jean enjoyed traveling, square dancing, round dancing, gardening, photography and cross-stitching.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Joseph.

Wilma Jean is survived by her husband of 36 years, Lewis; son, Christopher and wife, Heather; sister, Patricia Ortigo and brother, Ricky Ortigo.