Louis Racanelli

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,...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...