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Louis Racanelli Obituary
He was born to the late Martino and Chiara Cirillo Racanelli in Bari, Italy. Louis immigrated to the United States on August 4, 1936 and found love with his wife of 59 years, Catherine Bertelli.
He was a devoted father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. A family man at heart, Louis was also a very hard working and successful business man in the local area. He also loved spending time in Florida and proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Racanelli, at home; his loving children, Martin Racanelli of the Town of Newburgh, Louis F. Racanelli of Newburgh, Claire Racanelli of Manhattan, N.Y. He was predeceased by his son, James L. Racanelli. He is also survived by his three cherished grandchildren: Lauren Catherine Racanelli, Louis Paul Racanelli and James Martin Racanelli all of Newburgh; one sister, Rose Novielli of Bari, Italy and numerous nieces and nephews. He was further predeceased by his five siblings: John, Nicholas, Leonard, Costanza and Chella.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 18, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh.
The family will be present to receive friends on Tuesday evening, October 16, from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, October 17, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Coloni Funeral Home, 3001 Rt. 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553; 845-561-0238.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Louis Racanelli
Lauren Racanelli
November 13, 2007
Lauren Racanelli
Professor Milligan
1 December 2006
History 021
Oral History Project: Luigi Racanelli
A day in the life of a poor Barese boy
Background: Today is November 23, 2005 and I am at my grandparents’ house in Newburgh, New York preparing to interview my grandfather, Louis Racanelli regarding his experiences migrating to the United States from Italy at the age of 13. My grandfather refers to the Barese men a lot; they are the men from his home town of Bari, Italy.
Name: Louis Racanelli
Current Age: 84 years old
Sex: Male
Born: November 25, 1922
Hometown: Bari, Italy
Can you please give a brief description of yourself and family?
Well, my Italian name is Luigi and I was born on November 25, 1922. All of my birth certificates and social security papers say that I was born on November 30, 1922, though. See, in Sannicandro the midwives deliver all the babies and after about 5 or 6 are delivered is when she goes to the town hall, and that’s when you were born. All the children are born on the same day, that’s how they do it there…
How many brothers and sisters did you have?
There were seven siblings all together, I was the youngest. There was Niccola, Leonardo, Giovanni, Costanza, Domenica, Rosa, and me. I was the youngest. There were three girls and 4 boys. My mother’s name was Chiara Cirillo, C-I-R-I-L-L-O and my father’s name was Martino Racanelli.
Can you describe your life growing up in Italy?
At the time I was growing up it was very hard, the times were very hard. We lived very frugal. It was during the Depression, wasn’t it during the Depression, Rene? Food was very scarce and we lived in a small home in the town of Sannicandro. We would get up every morning at dawn, about 5 o’clock and go with the mules. We would go with the mules about 3 or 4 kilometers to our farm. We had a few acres of farm where we made most of our own food, but you see—none of the farms were connected to anyone’s homes. They were all further away. All the houses were in the town and then everyone’s farms were a few kilometers away. We would get up very early and the mules would pull the wagon. We worked very hard; we made our own olives and grapes- and we made wine with the grapes… We made our own cheese, we had a goat that we made cheese from. We made our, we made our own olive oil too and our own wheat—for the bread. We didn’t have a lot of meat, mostly pastas and vegetables. About every 2 weeks we had rabbit or chicken, sometimes fish. During the holidays it was a little bit more bountiful, but it was hard growing up…. There, there were a lot of us all together. It was not like it is today, ya know. There was no hot water; water ran cold. We had big fireplaces that we would cook on. The women, they made the dough and would bring about 5 or 6 loaves to the baker in town. The baker would, he would cook the loaves for a few pennies and then give you back what you gave him. Because we didn’t have our own ovens. It was a very hard life. Why do you think we came here for, Lauren?
What made your family decide to move to the United States?
To improve life and make more money. America was the land of opportunity. He (his father) had to make more money before he started a family. My dad came in 1903, through Ellis Island before he had even married my mother. He did his papers right, so by the time I came I was able to get into America as the, as the minor of a citizen. My father came with his brother-in-laws and lived in Brooklyn. Life was very hard for them; they worked all the time. They rented an apartment all together, with no heat. They used newspapers as table cloths and to cover the windows. They rented apartments with just mattresses. His first job after he got off the ship was with the railroad, but he didn’t like that. That’s when he started with the ice business. It paid good money, it was a cash business and there were no taxes back then.
What was the ice business?
It was the business my father and a lot of Barese men started when they first came to the states. It paid well; it was good cash. They would sell ice and carry big ice blocks all around NYC. It was a hard job. We would carry the ice all the up 5 flights of stairs in the brown stones.
Did your father travel to America with plans to return to Italy?
O, yes! He went in 1903 and he came back in 1905 for the first time and met my mother. And then he stayed a while and then my sister, Costanza was born in 1908. I don’t remember exact dates, but in between that time he did travel back once, I don’t remember exact dates, though—just years. It was very common for these immigrants to travel back and forth. I remember when I was older and I went into the bakery in Yorkville, the paesan (Italian friend from his hometown) said my father should have bought the ship because he traveled back and forth to Italy so much. That’s what all the paesan did though. We wouldn’t go all at once. A few of us would go at a time and send the money back.
How did your father send money back to your mother?
My father would send a couple hundred dollars back every once in a while with the Barese people. There were always people from our town coming back and forth. It wasn’t like today. Everyone trusted one another. One time you would bring the money back for everyone, and then the next time you would send your money with someone else. My father would go back home a lot, though.
How old were you when you traveled to America what was it like?
Well, we came on a big, beautiful ship called “The Rex,” R-E-X. It was new; it was only a few years old. We left from Naples and it took about 6 or 7 days. I don’t remember if it was the end of October or the beginning of November, in 1936. I came with my mother and my sister, Rosa. In the Mediterranean when we left Naples until we got to the Gibraltar, it was beautiful. When we got to the Atlantic, it was a mess. My mother would go to the Mess Hall and bring back stuff for my sister and I. Mostly apples and bread, because that’s all we could keep down. When I was in the cabin I was fine, but when I went to the top deck I felt sick.
How big was the boat, was it bigger than the Titanic?
O yes, it was much bigger than the Titanic. It held a couple thousand people. By this time my father already had money, so we didn’t have to travel in the big rooms, with all the people. They called that, steerage. That’s where my dad traveled when he first came. We got our own cabin in third class. There was first, second, and third class. We had our own cabin in third class, which was nicer.
Was your journey to America the typical horror story that my generation normally hears?
No. Well I felt sick but the boat was beautiful. Like I said because my father had already made some money we were able to stay in our own cabin. We didn’t have to stay in one room with many families. It was nice in the cabin. I’m sure when my father first came over 33 years earlier in steerage it was that terrible story.
Did you travel through Ellis Island?
No we docked right in the New York Port Authority. I was already an American citizen. I was the minor of my father who was a citizen. We all got in-- my mother, my sister, Rosa, and me.
What did you expect to see when you got off the ship?
Everybody said the streets were paved with gold, but I didn’t see any. I expected to see the land of opportunity, but I didn’t really know what to expect. We were coming for my brother’s wedding so I was just excited about that and about seeing my family.
What were your first impressions when you got off the ship?
My older brother, Nick picked us up with his car, and we all had our trunks. My mom, me and my sister. I was amazed by all of the neon lights. It was night time when we arrived so all of the neon lights for the bars and restaurants really stood out. It was nothing like Sannicandro. You know what Sannicandro looked like, Lauren. You saw it. It was nothing like my small hometown. After being on water for a whole week I was just happy to be on land because I felt so sick. The buildings were so much bigger and the streets were so much busier.
Did you come to America expecting to stay?
Well like I said, we were coming for my brother’s wedding but I had a feeling I was going to stay because I was 13 and all my brothers were there already helping my father. I was going to help my dad make money. I was only 13 so it wasn’t my decision, but when my mom saw how nice it was my mother wanted to stay. She was supposed to just come for the wedding and go back, but my mother was a smart women. She wasn’t no dummy. She wanted to stay. I was so excited to see my brothers because I hadn’t seen them for 5 years. Pop went back and forth but not the boys.
What was life like when you first began living in America and where did you live?
Life was hard at first, but luckily my father had already made money. The ice man was a good, cash business. When my mother came over with us we already had an apartment to live in, in Brooklyn. We didn’t have to spend time searching for one. We still worked very hard though. My father and my brothers worked very hard. When I first came over I continued school and would help my father with the ice business whenever I got out of school and on the weekends. I always had money to go to the movies, not like my other friends, I just never had any time to go to the movies.
What was school like for you in America?
School was hard, I felt embarrassed that I didn’t speak the language. The kids always made fun of me and called us, guineas. I had a big mouth and I would yell back at them. We never really got into fights though. The Irish were here first, because of the potato famine, so they always picked on us because they used to be the ones who used to get teased. Eventually we teased the next ones. I found a lot of prejudice but I already had three brothers that paved the way. That was a big help. I was just happy for all of my family to be together…. Oh, when I was 16 my teacher told me I didn’t have to come back to school. She said, “hey, Racanelli you don’t have to bother coming back”. They never liked the foreigners; they never liked us Italians.
What do you mean they never liked us, foreigners/Italians?
Well, I mean they didn’t. They were prejudice. We couldn’t speak the language, and they just didn’t like us. It was alright though, I had my family.
Overall, do you think moving to America was a good decision?
Oh, sure! Are you kidding? It was the land of opportunity. Sure you worked hard but there was so much more over here. We have everything now because of the sacrifices my father made, and my kids have more than I had, and you kids have more than they had. It’s just how it works. I made everything over here. I started with my one oil truck in the City and everything else happened from there. I was a one man business. It was the best decision my father ever made. Are you kidding, we wouldn’t have had you if we never came. We have so much to be thankful for.
Reflecting on your childhood, how would you describe your life in Italy compared to when you moved to the states?
Oh, well I miss missed it a little bit, but I knew it would always be there. Besides most of my family was in America. We worked hard and all loved each other. Life was better in America; it just was. There was so much more going on here. It was the land of opportunity. Bari was so much different.
You refer to the “land of opportunity” a lot. Can you explain that a little?
Well everyone knew America was the land of opportunity. There was no way to get ahead in our small town. There were so many possibilities here and choices; so many different types of people from all over the world. You got real jobs in America, back home you just basically farmed and raised all your own food. It was too hard. It wasn’t the kind of life you wanted to live.
In closing, do you have any final thought or emotions about anything?
Just that it was a good experience and we worked very hard to get where we are today. We had nothing and now we have so much to be thankful for.
Tony & Cathy Uanino
October 30, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May your many wonderful memories comfort you during this time. He was a very generous man and he will be missed.
Christopher Wetzel
October 29, 2007
What I will remember most about Uncle Gene is his sense of humor,what a funny guy he was! I remember in Dogwood Hills how he would send us down to the cellar to get soda and when we opened the refrigerator door the first thing we'd see was the head of a sheep.. man did we scream and run up those steps!!Uncle Gene was just laughing and laughing. Then there was another time when I was pestering him to let me ride the tractor "Uncle Gene I want to ride the tractor, I want to ride the tractor,I want to ride the tractor" finally he said "if you can start it you can ride it."Well I got that tractor started and headed off down the big hill in the back yard when Uncle Gene came running out telling me to get off the tractor but he was laughing and had a big smile on his face.People talk about being a gentleman and about being noble but Uncle Gene didn't talk the talk, he lived it and he did it the old fashioned way through love of family and through hard work.He is truly a man both noble of spirit and a true gentleman in every sense of the word.Uncle Gene I will miss you sitting at the head of the Christmas Table and smiling and laughing and making sure your family is well taken care of... 45 years of wonderful memories.So thank you Uncle Gene for all the great memories, for always opening your home to my family, and making my life richer through having known you.
James Racanelli
October 21, 2007
Sunday everning, we exited the car and looked up to see poppi peering out of the window. The sweet aromas of grandma's kitchen fill our nostrils as we greet poppi. Our poppi, Louis Racanelli, lived for others, and above all his family.
Once just a boy from Bari, who came here to achieve something wonderful but realized he had accomplished so much more.
Through the years he and his loving wife, Catherine Racanelli, had four beautiful children; Marty, Jamie, Louis, and Clair, who also went on to have children of their own, Louis, Lauren, and Jamie; they were his pride and joy. This later became apparent through the way he spoiled them.
Never looking out for his best interest, but always contributing to the best iterets of other's, our Poppi lives in heaven, he shines down from above, watching over the ones he loves.
Lauren Racanelli
October 21, 2007
Eulogy: Louis "Gene" Racanelli
October 18, 2007
I can still hear the sound of the ocean and wind, as I slide open the glass doors in Florida, looking out to see my Poppy sitting happily in “his” chair just thinking and watching as the cars pass by. He loved Florida with the warm weather and the beach, but he always had to come home, home to his family, home to business. That was my Grandpa: Hard working, loyal, dedicated, and caring. James remembers him always at the head of the kitchen table when we would come over for Sunday dinner with a little glass of wine in his hand. He would just sit and watch the river with the barges; it took so little to make him happy. My dad says, “There’s not on bad bone in his body.” There aren’t many genuine, honest men left like my Poppy.
He was around for 84 beautiful years. In that time, whether you knew him as Gene, Dad, Poppy, Mr. Racanelli, Louis or Luigi, you knew and loved a kind, sensitive little man. If there is on thing that sticks out most about him, it could be his laugh. It was bigger than him and it came from deep within his heart.
He truly got joy from the small things in life. As long as his family was happy, he was happy. Whether he was taking a trip to Publix, stopping the car on the side of the road to pick wild mushrooms or the delicious nespole’ that he would steal out of the ladies’ yard in Florida, to send home to me in a shoe box, taking a trip to Arthur Avenue, or making his daily trip to Beacon Oil, his smile and presence left such an impression. He existed and lived for his family. We will never forget Christmas at Poppy and Grammy’s house. He was such a generous man, and his table was always open to family.
Growing up, I remember I would look over my shoulder and see my grandpa. He was always watching us. In Florida James, Louis and I would look back, smile, and get a little wave in return. He observed everything. My grandfather might not have always said much, but he was always thinking and always paying attention. I know just as he always watched us on Earth, he will always watch is in Heaven. He is with Uncle Jamie now, and his parents, brothers, sister, and family.
My Grammy Casaccio said without a doubt my Poppy went immediately to Heaven. He was and is such a good man. My Grammy was so lucky to have him for 59 years, just as he was as lucky to have such a beautiful, wonderful, amazing wife to take care of him everyday in return.
He was and is so loved and we will follow proudly in his footsteps. Husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, nephew, brother, friend. “Gene,” my hero. We love you!
Love you forever poppy,
Lauren Catherine
xoxoxox
I love you so much poppy. Thank you for everything you have given all of us.
P.S. I found your mushrooms in the basement yesterday and it made me smile.
Bob & Joanne Wetzel
October 21, 2007
While we're here mourning Gene's passing away, we do so in the context of his life and what he meant to each of us personally. As he lives on in heaven, he'll always be alive here in our memories.
For me, he's been such a good part of my life since I was 16 years old and spent a few days one summer with the family at a cabin in Warwick,NY. I couldn't get over his hospitality and generosity then and I still can't.
While Gene was small in stature, to me he was a big brother and a very big man. A family man - loving, hardworking and very generous. While small in size, Gene loved food. Not necessarily to eat, but to buy, cook and give away to his family and friends. He's the only man I know who got full just smelling food.
Aside from feeding his family, Gene was happiest climbing trees looking for the Mama Fungi; scampering up a cliffside on the Amalfi Drive in search of dandelions, and picking platefuls of figs, in his bathrobe in Tuscany, for our breakfast.
To me and my family, Christmas is synonymous with Gene (Uncle Gene), as Joanne and I sat at his bountiful Christmas table 50 years - our whole married lives - and our kids, all their lives.
And so we celebrate Gene's life and a lifetime of wonderful memories.
We love you Gene and will miss you - Bon Appetite in heaven Gene!
Joyce Racanelli
October 20, 2007
Dear Aunt Rene,Marty, Louis, Claire,
Even though I didn't hear Uncle Gene speak until I was married about five years or so to Eugene, it didn't matter. He was the type of person that you knew, no matter what, if you needed him you just had to say so. He was the genuine article; to be with him meant that you could just relax and be yourself. Uncle Gene judged nothing and only wanted the best for whomever was standing in front of him. I will miss his kind soul and his gentle ways.
Love,
Joyce
P.S. Aunt Rene, can you stop hiding your shopping bags now?
Anthony Racanelli
October 19, 2007
A true Testament to family commitment:
In 1975 Uncle Gene's brother Nick Passed away. I was only 15 and my mother was 58 years old. It was a very lonley time for my mother and I felt sad for my mom and helpless because I came to realize that she would never get over the loss of her husband; she would only cope with it.
I remember when Uncle Gene and Aunt Rene came to visit and stayed over,( They came often!). I remember my mothers face light up; she was so happy! Uncle Gene would sit at that little counter in the kitchen and watch my mom and Aunt Rene go at it. ( Mom would try to speak italian to Aunt Rene, and it never went well!) Uncle Gene just sat there and laughed hysterically.
Soon we were all laughing!!!
Those visits were like Christmas presents for me, because I could see what they ment to my mother. It is a lasting memory for me and I love you both for it!
The apples don't fall far from the tree. I have felt the same commitment and compassion from Marty, Lou and Claire. I am proud to be their cousin.
Today, Uncle Gene is in a better place. I know the he and my mom are hysterically laughing again.
Can't you hear them? :)
Claire Racanelli
October 19, 2007
Said at the cemetery by my beautiful Aunt Claire:
He Said, "I Love You"
I want to start out by saying three words (actually four) to my father… "Daddy, I love you!"
Why is it that these words were so hard, for such a loving and gentle man to say and truth be told, for me to say to him. God knows I love him. And I know he loves me.
Even back from Dogwood Hills, begging him to “just say “love”” on my mothers Christmas card. (Everyone heard me of course, even mommy.)
Those words bring so much emotion when it came to my father.
I remember the first time I went to Europe with my High School class (going to Italy then, was like going to another planet today) and we said we loved each other and I was filled with tears.
Like my father says, "I want to say it, but those words get stuck."
We all know how much daddy loved us.
Each and every one of us here know how much he loves us. In his special way, he loved us the way we needed.
I realized today that my father was always saying, “I love you,” constantly.
He said, “Rene, I love you,” every day.
You are my wife of 59 years. I am with you and I will always be with you. He said it by being a loving husband, and the most amazing father to your four children. By building you that house on the river and buying the condo on the ocean, but mostly daddy said, "Rene, I love you," by waking up every day with you and coming home to you every night. He said, "I love you," when you were a young couple by embracing our family and loving your sisters. He said it everyday, by cooking with you, going to the store for you and just by being with you.
He said “James, my son, I love you,” because with the hardship of your passing, I will turn that sorrow into tenderness and cherish my family even more.
He constantly said "I love you" to Marty and Louie by teaching them how to be good, caring loving men. He taught them values. He built a business that taught them how to provide and shared his work ethic. He said, "I love you" to them you by setting an example of what it is like to have a family of their own, and to teach them that nothing else comes before being a good father.
He said, “I love you” to Lauren, Louis, and James from the moment they were born. He said it by being so gentle with them as babies, holding them so closely and taking pure delight in their every move. Just seeing them walking up the stairs lit my fathers heart on fire with love and laughter.
I believe that Lauren, Louis and James will always make my father smile and laugh till the end of time, here and in heaven.
And to me, my father said, "I love you, Claire," because you are my baby and my only daughter. He made me feel that no matter what, I will always be provided for. And that he will always be there. He made me feel loved.
He said, "I love you," by being the most gentle, sensitive and generous father a girl can have.
He said, "I love you," when he would ask me, to this day, if I ate or if I needed money.
My father said, "I love you" to all of us, by showing us that love, family, generosity, laughter and commitment are the measures of success. That respect and manners are instilled by example.
He said, “I love you,” because of how proud I am to have had such a wonderful gentle man as my father.
And mostly He said, “I love you,” constantly by not really saying it much at all, but giving it to us every moment of every day.
I love you forever, Daddy.
Love always,
Claire.
Devon DeFiore
October 19, 2007
I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I am sorry I cannot be there with you please know my thoughts are with you during this hard time.
Laurie & Anthony Morra
October 18, 2007
For all of us who loved him, there is an empty spot in our hearts this week, and there will be for a long time to come. And yet that emptiness will be filled with all our memories of a great and tender man. And while we who have congregated at Christmas for all our lives will always remember that "You could have said 'love!'" -- we know that he did say "love," and in many ways. In the way he treasured his family, and built a legacy, and kept traditions going, and held us all close through the years, and even through the miles. Uncle Gene was always welcoming -- his home was your home, his food and drink, all he had to offer -- all for your enjoyment and to bring a smile to your face. Everyone was welcome at his table. What a great gift of hospitality he had! You would have thought he'd have been a big guy with the way he loved food so much -- loved for everyone else to eat it, that is! I remember being about 7 years old and being on a family camping trip. Uncle Gene brought out a watermelon and said it was all for me. He was kidding, but my eyes lit up -- I couldn't believe it! (But ultimately I did share)! We have a lifetime of memories to cherish! Rest in peace, Uncle Gene, rejoice in heaven, reunited with so many you loved!
Lauren Racanelli
October 18, 2007
Anyone who knew my poppy knew what a wonderful, caring man he was. He was and is loved so much, and has so many wonderful people that he leaves behind to proudly follow in his footsteps. I was so lucky to have shared 20 great years with my poppy. I have endless cherished memories. I love you poppy, and don't worry I'll take good care of grandma... xoxoxoxox
Doug Wolfe
October 17, 2007
Louie & Family,I'm sorry to here about the loss of your dad.Sorry I can't be there but my thoughts & prayers are with you & your family in this diffilcult time.
Paul Mayer
October 17, 2007
You can tell the quality of a tree from the fruit it bears and knowing the children and grandchildren of Louis, the tree of life from this man was long and excellent
The Staff of Coloni Funeral Home
October 17, 2007
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
The DeFiore Family
October 16, 2007
If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane
We would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again
Many hearts still ache in sadness and many tears still flow
What it meant for those to lose you no one will ever know
Since you'll never be forgotten and so dearly missed today
A cherished place within our hearts is where you will always stay
October 16, 2007
Tears
If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane
We would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again
Many hearts still ache in sadness and many tears still flow
What it meant for those to lose you no one will ever know
Since you'll never be forgotten and so dearly missed today
A cherished place within our hearts is where you will always stay
(unknown author)
With Our Deepest Sympathy,
Carolyn,
Dante,& Devon DeFiore
Kymbra Lier
October 16, 2007
Lou and family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you, at this very difficult time.
With Deepest Sympathy,
John Abrams & Associates Insurance
Agency, Inc.
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