Category: Obituaries

Cousins, Obituaries

Goodbye to Two Cousins

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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.

Cousins, Genetti Family, Obituaries

Goodbye to Another Genetti Cousin

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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.

Please click here to read Danny’s memorial page.

Genetti Family, Obituaries

Farewell to Conrad

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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.

Conrad’s memorial page has now been published on our website. Click here to read about Conrad George Reich (1938-2025).

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/

Cousins, Obituaries, Pennsylvania

Goodbye to a Genetti Descendant

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We are sad to bring you the news that another Genetti cousin has passed away. Karen Zamko Walsh died on July 6th at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Cedar Crest, Pennsylvania at the age of 63. She was the daughter of John (Jack) Zamko (1933-2008) and Emma Bott (1925-2005). Karen was the granddaughter of Verecondo Bott (1884-1955) and Addolorata Erminia Genetti (1889-1971) of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

You can read Karen’s tribute page here: https://genettifamily.com/karen-zamko-walsh/

We send our condolences to Karen’s family in this time of loss.

Cousins, Genetti Family, Obituaries

The Passing of a Descendant

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Sadly another Genetti descendant has passed on. Louise Marie Forneris Fernandez, age 86, died on January 26th in Collinsville, Illinois. She was the daughter of Rosina Amelia Genetti and Giovanni Forneris. A descendant of the Illinois Genetti branch and a second generation American, Louise was the granddaughter of Vigilio Genetti (born in Castelfondo, Austria) and his second wife, Margaretha Mueller Kittstein (born in Alsace, France).

I found Louise’s obituary to be a little piece of family history, full of personal details and obviously radiating the love she had for her large family. You can read our memorial to Louise Fernandez on our website with her full obituary, just click here.

Over the years, I have completed extensive research into the Illinois Genetti family as they have an unusual history spanning several generations. I also correspond with many descendants of the four Genetti brothers who originally came to Illinois. Louise was no exception to this complicated family ancestry and she also had a confusing immediate family history.

After her grandfather’s first wife died, Vigilio Genetti married a young widow (Louise’s grandmother) who had two sons by her first marriage. The couple soon had a second family. Vigilio had three sons and a daughter with his first wife, Domenica Maria Dolzadelli. His four children were adults by the time he married Margaretha. Being older, Vigilio and his second wife immediately began a family and had twin girls in 1916 (Louise’s mother Rosina was one of the twins) and a son in 1918. It was a true blended family of siblings and half-siblings.

When Rosina married Giovanni “John” Forneris and they had their only child, Louise, she would grow up with four half-uncles, a half-aunt, an aunt who was a twin to her mother (Margarita Maria) and her Uncle Vernon Charles (her mother’s younger brother). There were many half-cousins and three full cousins in this extended family.

As this blended family wasn’t already confusing enough, it takes another twist through the Fernandez family. In 1942, Louise’s Uncle Vernon marries Geraldine Fernandez. Sometime in the 1950’s, Louise marries Geraldine’s brother, Angel Fernandez. This means that Louise’s four children and the three children of Vernon and Geraldine are double cousins, being related through both their maternal and paternal sides. The seven cousins are first cousins through Angel Fernandez and Geraldine Fernandez Genetti and first cousins, once removed through Louise Forneris Fernandez and her Uncle Vernon Genetti.

Yes, this was a real head-scratcher and took several hours to sort out, as well as another few hours updating our family tree to reflect the intermarriage between the Genetti/Forneris/Fernandez families! It can be quite complicated as you don’t want to enter descendants twice. You can browse our newly updated tree for the Illinois Genetti family at http://genettifamily.tribalpages.com. (You need to create a free account in order to login and access the tree.) After logging in, it’s easy to find Louise Forneris Fernandez by entering her name in the search box at the top of the home page. You can then trace her ancestry as well as her husband’s connection to the Genetti family by following the line of ancestors back in time. (Currently our Genetti Family Tree has 2067 ancestor/descendant listings).

To all of Louise’s family we extend our sincerest sympathies.

If you would like to drop by Louise’s memorial page and leave a memory or a condolence to the family, please click here.

Find our tribute page for Louise Marie Forneris Fernandez on the Genetti Memorial page by clicking here.

Cousins, Obituaries, Pennsylvania

The Passing of an Elder

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Sadly we bring you the news that another elder has passed on. Albert Dominick Zambotti was the youngest child of Ottilia Genetti and Pietro Zambotti. Born in 1928, Albert left us on November 8th, just a week shy of his 94th birthday.

Born in Weston, Pennsylvania, Albert was a first generation American and the fourth child of Tillie and Peter Zambotti. His parents had immigrated from Castelfondo, Austria (now Italy) early in the 1900’s. The couple married in 1911.

We extend our sympathies to the relatives of Albert Zambotti.

To read Albert’s memorial, please click here.

Ancestors, Family History, Family Stories, Genetti Family, Obituaries

Updates to Website

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It’s time to do a little housekeeping at the Genetti Family Genealogy Project. During the past few weeks I’ve made changes and additions to our website for easier navigation. You will now find “Family Stories” and “Memorials” located in the main menu at the top of each page. Before, these two pages were listed under the Gallery section and were often overlooked by visitors to our site. Since “Family Stories” and “Memorials” contain some of the most interesting information on our website, I wanted to ensure quick access to all of their fascinating info.

You will find three new items listed on the “Family Stories” page, with several more tales currently in the works. Do you have an interesting story about your family you would like to share? Just pop me a message through our Contact page with the details.

Take a spin over to our recently updated “Memorials, Tributes and Obituaries” page and you’ll find many new ancestral obituaries, dating from 1928 through 2021. Over the years, I have collected obits whenever I come across one in an old newspaper or on Ancestry.com. They always make for interesting reading! My collection has now been added to the “Memorials” page, plus I have updated all of our past obituaries and tributes to include new photos or additional info. Stop by and see if you recognize one of your ancestors. We currently have 69 memorials attributed to most branches of the Genetti family found in the United States.

If you have a memorial or obituary from your family that you would like included on our website, drop me a line at our Contact page. Since obits are a prime source of genealogical information, sharing your memorials may help another family historian solve an ancestral mystery or add important details to their own family tree.

Fast link to “Family Stories” – https://genettifamily.com/family-stories/

Fast link to “Memorials, Tributes and Obituaries” – https://genettifamily.com/tributes/

Ancestors, Family History, Family Trees, genetic genealogy, Genetti Family, Obituaries

2021: A Look Back

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Saint Nicolo, Castelfondo

As the holidays are upon us and another year draws to a close, this is a good time to reflect on the past. Although I have not posted on a regular basis this year, there is much to tell you concerning genealogy and family research.

First, I would like to acknowledge all of the Genetti elders who have passed on during the past two years. Many wise souls departed, taking with them family stories and knowledge of previous generations who came before them. There is a genealogy quote that says “When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground.” I thought of this proverb often as I published each obituary. If you would like to remember those who have left us during 2020-2021, please visit our Tributes page found in the Gallery section.

This year I had the opportunity and time to enrich my genealogy education. There is so much to learn in regards to new techniques and tools! Luckily many virtual classes, workshops and conferences are available online and I eagerly took advantage of every genealogy event. Two extensive classes in particular really advanced my skills in genetic genealogy: “Endogamy and DNA” and “Y-DNA for Genealogy”. I hope to use my new-found insight and knowledge to help more Genetti descendants untangle their DNA results. In a future blog post I’ll explain how you can be a valuable contributor to our genetic ancestry just by getting tested!

While we are on the topic of DNA, it was another exciting year for mystery matches! Since 2016, I have helped a number of cousin matches with questionable or unknown parentage by identifying their birth family ancestry, often with interesting and sometimes surprising results. Usually these mystery cousins find me because our DNA matches through one of the major testing companies. This year was no exception as I received a message in March from a match who lived in France. I was very excited to work with an unknown French cousin and enthusiastically dived into the research. Due to privacy, I will not discuss their identity or personal information. But I can tell you it was and still is an extensive project with many twists and turns, involving three people doing the research in three different countries and in three different languages! It is a complicated recent ancestry connected with two generations of non-paternal events – and the research is still ongoing. In case you are wondering, this person is not a direct Genetti descendant but they are connected to the Genetti line by marriage. And I have verified my relationship to this match as a 3rd cousin, once removed through descendants of my paternal grandmother’s Marchetti ancestry.

Also on my 2021 genealogy to-do list was researching and compiling a four-generation family history for the Illinois Genetti family. Normally I would not undertake such an extensive project as it truly involves months of research and a lot of patience to uncover little-known history. However, I have a personal research interest in two ancestors from this family line. And when three siblings who descended from this particular ancestry contacted me in March, I saw the project as an opportunity to record and possibly correct family history. Hopefully I will have the research and written history completed by the beginning of 2022. As a result of delving into 150 years of events and four generations of descendants from this branch, I am now in the process of adding hundreds of new people to our off-line and on-line family tree!

You can find more information about the Genetti Family Online Tree plus a link to our extensive tree currently containing 1,973 descendants at: Family Tree. During the next month we will pass the 2,000 mark as I have many, many more people to add. FYI – our online family tree contains many helpful tools in addition to the tree itself. Here are a few to sample: under “View” in the main menu click on “Kin” to learn the relationships of a particular ancestor; create multi-generational reports for descendants and ancestors; or view the fascinating Map tool to see where ancestors and their descendants lived. Plus many people in our tree also have photographs and documents attached to their file. Stop by for a visit and discover something new in your family line!

Genetti Family Online Tree

If you have information or photographs you would like added to our family tree, please message me through our Contact page.

I wish all my cousins near and far, a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!