Erminia Enrica Genetti (1876-1972) was born in Castelfondo, Austria (Italy). She was the youngest child of Leone (1826-1909) and Cattarina Genetti (1834-1893), sister of Damiano Genetti (1857-1944) . Erminia arrived in America as a young woman in 1890, settling with the rest of her siblings in Pennsylvania. She married Emanuel Maria Recla (1866-1939) in 1893. Within a few years they headed west, first to Michigan and then on to Spokane, Washington. Erminia lived a very long life, passing away in 1972 at the age of 95. Erminia and Emanuel’s descendants still live in the Spokane area. Many of the photographs in this section were donated by Erminia’s granddaughters Mary Pettis Russell and Linda Pettis Sullivan.
Courtesy of Mary Pettis Russell and Linda Pettis Sullivan (great-granddaughters of Erminia Genetti).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Erminia Genetti Recla (1876-1972) and husband Emanuel Recla (1866-1939) with family in Spokane, WA – 1914. The children include Ralph (1900-1967), Catherine (in lap) (1909-1989), Elaine (standing) (1912-1982), and the three older daughters: Esther (1897-1991), Marie (1903-1940) and Emma (1899-1988).
Courtesy of Mary Russell (great granddaughter of Erminia Genetti).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
A beautiful postcard of Elaine (1912-1982) (on stool), Emma (1899-1988) and Kathryn (or Catherine) (1909-1989), children of Erminia Enrica Genetti (1876-1972) and Emanuel Recla (1866-1939). This was a formal portrait taken by the Phelps Studio in Spokane, WA, probably around 1915.
According to the 1930 Federal Census, Kathryn Recla had entered the St. Joseph Convent in Muscatine, Iowa and was listed as a music teacher. Unfortunately we loose track of her after this and she does not appear in the 1940 census. After she took her vows, her name may have changed to Sister Dolerette.
Postcard courtesy of Don and Joyce Lingousky
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Back side of postcard (see above).
Addressed to Mrs. L. Lingousky (Leonela Erminia Recla Lingousky), the note reads: “Dear Nela, Here is the picture of 3 ‘chicks’, Emma, Kathryn and the Baby Elaine. Emma has changed a bit since you saw her last, eh? Esther – Are you going to forget to write? I wrote you immediately but it looks as if you are mad.”
The postcard was sent by Erminia Genetti Recla from Spokane, WA to her niece, Leonela Recla Lingousky in Hazleton, PA. Leonela was the grandmother of Don Lingousky who donated this lovely card.
Courtesy of Don and Joyce Lingousky.
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Emma “Anna” Recla Little (1899-1988), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanual Recla, with daughter Virginia Little (1922-1951).
Date: 1924
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Catherine Recla (1909-1989), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1913
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Elaine (1912-1982) and Eugene “Gene” Recla (1915-2003), children of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla.
Date: 1917
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Elaine (1912-1982) and Catherine Recla (1909-1989), children of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1915.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Catherine Recla (1909-1989) became a nun (Sister Dolorette), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla.
Date unknown.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Emanuel Recla (1866-1939) with his daughter Catherine (Sister Dolorette). Date unknown.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Marie “Mary” Louise Recla (1903-1940), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1921.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Mary Recla (1903-1940), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla, high school portrait. Date: about 1921.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Marie “Mary” Louise Recla (1903-1940), daughter of Erminia Genetti Recla and Emanuel Recla, with her husband Harry Pettis (1902-1962). Photo taken in the early 1920’s soon after they were married. Marie is Mary Russell’s grandmother.
Courtesy of Mary Russell (great granddaughter of Erminia Genetti).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Eugene “Gene” Paul Recla (1915-2003), son of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla, with his wife Ruth K. Berven (1914-1990). Date: unknown.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Elaine Dorothy Recla Tibessart (1912-1982), daughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1950’s
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Virginia Ellen Recla Little (1922-1951), daughter of Emma Recla (1899-1988) and Stanhope Sylvester Little (1895-1960), granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1939.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Robert Harry (1924-2017) and George Hayes Pettis (1922-?), children of Mary Recla and Harry Pettis, grandsons of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: 1926.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla, daughter of Robert Harry Pettis).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Robert Harry (1924-2017) and George Hayes Pettis (1922-?), children of Mary Recla and Harry Pettis, grandsons of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla. Date: about 1932.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla)
(Please click on photo for larger view)
Robert Harry Pettis (1924-2017) was the son of Harry Pettis and Marie Louise Recla. He was a decorated Navy veteran of World War II. In 2016 Robert was part of Honor Flight for senior veterans, and with his daughter Linda, they were flown to Washington, DC to visit memorials and take part in a ceremony honoring the sacrifice of American vets.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla, daughter of Robert Pettis)
(Please click on photo for larger view)
The Recla women with their children. Front Row (L to R): George Pettis, Virginia Little, Robert Pettis, Barbara Kruesel, Doris Kruesel, Anita Kruesel. Back Row (L to R): Mary Recla Pettis, Anna Recla Little, Erminia Genetti Recla, Ester Recla Kruesel. Photographed 1930.
Courtesy of Linda Pettis Sullivan, (great-granddaughter of Erminia Genetti and Emanuel Recla).
(Please click on photo for larger view)
We welcome all contributions to the Genetti Family Photo Gallery. Please send photos as JPG files attached to an email (no more than 8 attachments per email). Include information for each photo so we can give it a caption (names, dates, location). Send to Louise Genetti Roach. Click here for email link.
The Genetti Family Genealogy Project 