Tag: Branz family

Ancestors, Castelfondo, Italy, Italian travel, Travel to Trentino Alto-Adige

Guest Post by Cecelia Joliat

by L.Roach • December 13, 2017 • 11 Comments

Cecelia Joliat, a descendant of the Genetti family, is the granddaughter of Regina Branz Daly (1931-2017) and Dr. Joseph E. Daly (1919-2013). She is also the great-granddaughter of Henry Branz (1897-1971) and Erminia Genetti (1896-1971).

Last year Cecelia made the long journey to her ancestral home of Castelfondo in the Val di Non. Today Cecelia shares with us an essay she composed about her family’s homeland along with personal photos from her trip. Many thanks Cecelia for your beautiful words and images!

The Val di Non – by Cecelia Joliat

Winter and spring had met in the valley and decided to form a truce; through the air was warm, little patches of snow clung to the grass and hid in the shadows of the houses at the base of the mountains. The mountains themselves served to break up the monotony of the blue sky, which threatened to swallow the valley whole. Indeed, the Val di Non was a place of perfect peace and clarity, a place where the tedious actions of every day life seemed to be carried away with the wind. It was there that my family packed its belongings and, with heavy hearts, left the comfort and security of their homeland to travel to America.

Over a hundred years later, I was inspired to make a personal pilgrimage to the land of my ancestors, and what I found exceeded expectation. The hillsides were covered in bare apple trees, slumbering in preparation for the next harvest, and the roof of every church glittered like a green gem. Train tracks cut swaths through the fields and bored holes in the sides of the mountains, with the stops punctuating the vast stretches of empty land in between. Neither photographer nor painter could do such sights justice.

No measure of time spent in the valley would have been long enough, so when it came time to leave, I left with the same heaviness of heart that my ancestors had. The windows of the train framed the snowy peaks, quaint farms, and ancient castles until the sun retreated and I was left peering into the darkness, hoping one day to return. ~ by Cecelia Joliat

(click on photos to view larger)

Ancestors, Quote, Tyrolean History

A Tyrolean Proverb

by L.Roach • March 9, 2016 • 1 Comment

Camillo Branz (1870-1948), Ray’s great-grandfather.

My favorite reason for doing genealogy are the people you meet along the way. Our little family website has drawn the attention of Tyrolean descendants from all over the world. Sometimes they turn out to be cousins; often they are family genealogists searching for clues to their own ancestry.

Last week I received a wonderful email from Ray Branz who shares our Tyrolean heritage. Ray explained, “Years ago I was traveling through Diamondville, WY and came across the attached story. I do not know the Bazzanella family … but … they left behind a proverb that may bring a smile.”

The name “Branz” immediately rang a bell! Jean Branz Daly is a prolific contributor to the Genetti website (and my first cousin, once removed). Jean’s mother, Erminia Genetti, married Henry Branz and they lived in Freeland, PA. I wondered if Ray was related to Jean’s father’s family.

Since Ray is also a genealogist and has detailed research about his own family tree, he wrote back immediately with the answer. Yes, we had many overlaps in our shared family histories. The Branz family was from the village of Sanzeno in the Val di Non, not far from the Genetti’s ancestral village of Castelfondo. Ray’s great-grandparents, Camillo and Maria Rosa, immigrated to Pennsylvania in the 1890’s, settling in Nuremberg, PA for a short time. They soon moved on to the coal mines of Wyoming. In 1904, the family finally putting down roots in southern Illinois. From Ray’s calculations, he and Jean were indeed distantly related as 6th cousins, once removed through the Branz family.

Since I have Genetti and Marchetti family who lived at the same time and in the same place in Pennsylvania as Ray’s great-grandparents, we are sure our ancestors knew each other. Plus different branches of the Genetti family also worked the mines in Wyoming and Illinois. Since Tyrolean immigrants who shared a common dialect (such as Nones from the Val di Non) often socialized and lived in the same communities, it’s likely that Camillo and Maria Rosa also knew the Genetti families who lived in these states. I always marvel at how truly small the world is!

Below is the original typed copy of the Tyrolean Proverb shared by Ray Branz. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Many thanks Ray. I look forward to future conversations about our shared heritage.

In closing, here’s a quote for everyone who has taken the time to write me during the past two years:

“The best part about genealogy is searching for ancestors and finding friends.” ~ Lawrence Dillard

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, Family History, Genetti Family, Photos

More Family Photos!

by L.Roach • September 25, 2015 • 0 Comments

The Genetti sisters, circa 1909: Ottilia (Tillie), Esther, Angela (Ann), Addolorata (Dora), and Erminia (Erma).

I’m thrilled to announce six more photos have been added to our family Photograph Page! Jean Daly Branz (daughter of Erma Genetti and Henry Branz, granddaughter of Damiano and Oliva Genetti) has been a great supporter and contributor to our website during the past year. A few weeks ago I received another package in the mail from Jean containing photographs of her parents, sister, aunts and grandmother. There was even an original newspaper clipping announcing the wedding of her cousin, Rita Genetti (my aunt) from 1940.

The photograph I loved the most was of the five Genetti sisters taken in the 1960’s. Last year Jean had sent me a beautiful antique portrait of the same sisters photographed in 1909 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. All were born in Castelfondo, Tyrol and emigrated to the United States at an early age. I’ve posted both photos here to commemorate the sisters.

The five Genetti sisters, circa 1969: Back Row – Esther, Tillie. Front Row – Dora, Erma, Ann

Thank you Jean! Your treasure-trove of memories has brought immeasurable joy to many viewers of The Genetti Family Genealogy Project.

See all of Jean’s photos on our Photograph Page (click the link and scroll to the bottom of the page to view the most recently added images).

Keep our family website growing! Send in your photos, stories and newspaper clippings to: info.genetti.family@gmail.com.