The Story Behind The Photo: Luisi Family Easter (1933)

Hello everyone! This is part of a new genealogical research series I am going to do where I explain and explore the background behind a family photograph, or a photograph I find that I try to give back to a living descendant.

This photo in particular, is currently one of my favorite family photographs that I have in my possession;the story behind the coming upon this multi-generational photograph is one of highlights along my genealogical journey.

Luisi Family Easter Group Photograph (circa. 1933)

Back in the early months of 2017, quite new in my genealogical career, I had decided to finally tackle the Merola-Luisi branch of my family. I was doing my usual research, when all of a sudden I came upon this amazing photograph. I was absolutely stunned. Many others had saved the photograph at this point, and I decided to reach out to my cousin, who was the original poster of this photograph. For naming purposes this cousin will go by the pseudonym Anna.

When I contacted Anna, she was glad that I reached out to her. She told me that her “grandmother was one of 12 children, all born here in the US as the first of the Luisi's born here. Their family was from Salerno, Italy. The photos I have uploaded were all ones that were in her home, a place I was fortunate enough to spend most of my life in.” Amazed, we exchanged contact information, and sent me the PDF of the photograph itself, along with a numbered list and photograph, handwritten and labeled by the last of the 12 Luisi Children, Elvera “Vera” Luisi, passing away in 2008. (I blurred out certain names for privacy reasons.)

James Merola's Obituary (1950)

The photo itself features 3 generations of the family, with 35 separate people featured, showcasing members ranging from my great grandfather to my 4th great grandfather, Michele Luisi, the oldest in the photograph. Dating from the Easter of 1933 (April 16,1933), it is an incredible lineup of individuals that am related to. It also features one of the only known photographs of my 2nd Great Grandfather James Merola (1896-1950), who died of a heart attack on Nov 15, 1950, leaving behind his wife (my 2nd Great Grandmother) Angelina and 7 children—he was only 54 years old.

Patsy Merola In Military Uniform

Angelina Luisi (1900-1984) was the oldest of 12 children, the products of my 3rd Great Grandparents Angelo Luisi (1881-1959) and Maria Grazia Luisi (1881-1949). For reference, her youngest sister Lydia only being 9 when the photograph was taken. Angelo also had the family of his sister Maria (Luisi) Matera (1888-1979) featured in the photograph.

In the photograph, some of the first to pass away were likely my 4th Great Grandfather Michele Luisi (his exact death is still unknown), or by my 3rd Great Grandmother Maria Luisi in 1949, followed by my 2nd Great Grandfather James Merola in 1950, and then my 3rd Great Uncle Michael Luisi in 1957. Of those in the photograph, 7 would serve in the military, most of them in the Army, with 1, my great grandfather Anthony “Tony”,who would enlist into the Navy.

Photograph of Michele, Angelo and Marie (Carnevale) Luisi

We all have had heard “that a picture can speak a thousand words”, but, for this one especially, it spoke volumes. It not only let me get more insight of the lives of my relatives, but allowed me to get more even more close with the people who descend from. Especially now, with many of my DNA relatives reaching out, this photograph enables me our family story collectively; for 12 children, there sure are a lot of relatives to find.