From: Mary Cerny
Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 11:23 AM
Subject: Renato Moretti's race in Italy
To: "Bugni, Marianne", Joan Goetz, Teri Moretti, Nicoletta Moretti, Luke Cerny, "Edward G.
Pekowski", Joe Moretti
Hi everyone!
I have recently been asked by cousin Ray Pekowski about a story that has been told by Adele and
Diana (Renato's daughters) about their father Renato Moretti. I'll tell the version that I thought I
heard from Diana Goetz (my Aunt and fathers sister), and from Flora Moretti Mytinger - who is
Renato's first cousin. Here goes:
I am not sure of the town's name in Italy or what year it was - but believe I it was probably in the
region of Perusia (where he was from) in the early 1900's. Renato Moretti was very fast at
running. I believe he was around 17 years old and he entered a race in the town. The Mayor's
son was also in the same race, and the Mayor told Renato to allow his son to win the race.
Renato did not comply with the request, and he won the race.(Does this stubbornness run in the
Moretti family?) Renato's father Luigi Moretti, feared the repercussions from the Mayor upon
Renato, so he sent him to live with his brother (Renato's Uncle Ugo) in Chicago, U.S.A. He
came over here and did live with his Uncle Ugo & Aunt Marianna Moretti until he was 22 years
old. Flora said that Renato's father, Luigi, then moved to Argentina, and that they never heard
from him again.
Uncle Ugo's daughter is Flora Moretti. She is around 92 or 93 years old and still living in
southern California. I have verified this story from her memory of it. Flora is a beautiful woman,
and has a very sharp mind and good memory for her age!! We get to see her once a year when
she comes to visit her daughter Marianne who lives in Fond Du Lac, WI.
She told me and my sister Teri that she loved Renato dearly and that he used to babysit for her
when she was little. She said that he was very kind and good to her as a young girl. He met
Jenny Francheschini ( my grandmother) when he was 22 years old, and married her. Flora was
the flower girl at their wedding, as you can see from the wedding picture that I believe I have
shared with you all. Flora was also very fond of my father, Remo. My father was born in 1929.
My Grandmother Jenny Morettti told me that Renato fell in love with her because he could see
what a dedicated daughter she was and such a hard worker in the home. Grandma frequently
spoke of her hard life, because her mother was crippled with arthritis, and Jenny had to do the
housework, cooking and other chores. No wonder she was such a good cook, and
housekeeper! Her home was always immaculate, and smelled wonderful from all the Italian
food she'd make!! Jenny came to the US from Italy when she was 5 yrs old! She was bilingual,
and loved to read! I sure do miss her and loved her dearly! My father Remo wondered if her
mother's side of the family could of been related to Napoleon Bonaparte, because she was born
in Corsica, which is a small island off the coast of France, and it is Bonapartes birth place haha! Never know!! I have 3 photo's attached of Renato and Jenny's wedding, and Jenny's side
of the family, in case you haven't seen them. Flora Moretti is the little flower girl in the picture
of their wedding.
Ray was wondering if the story is really true, and if anyone in the family has heard a different
version. Ray has heard his mom's (Adele's) version of the story - which was that it was a bicycle
race that he won. I believe I have heard from 2 sources - my Aunt Diana, and cousin Flora that
it was a running race. If any of you can check with your family to see what they have heard and
who they heard it from - that may solve this. I could be wrong - and not 100% sure if the sources
said a running or bicycle race, but thought it was a running race?? My father, Remo, nor my
Grandmother Jenny ever mentioned this story to me. I first heard about it from my Aunt Diana
while she told it to my son Luke after my father's funeral. I then asked Flora about it the next
time I saw her, and understood it to be a running race??
Marianne - could you check with your mom the next time you talk to her on the phone if she can
verify if it was a running or bicycle race - and if the story is accurate as far as she
knows? Thanks so much!
I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you and hope you have a blessed Christmas and New
Years!! If anyone has other stories of our Moretti family history I would love to hear them!
Love,
Mary
From: Ray Pekowski
12/9/14
to pekowski, Lynda, Anthony, Andrew, Amanda, Mary
The legend (true story) of Grandpa Moretti goes on. How cool and nice of our cousin Mary to
give so much detail. Thank you Mary. Christmas time makes you think of family.
From: Ray Pekowski
12/9/14
to Mary
(The following is) From my mom, your Aunt :- )
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: EPekowski, [pekowski_family] <pekowski_family@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Subject: RE: [pekowski_family] Fwd: Renato Moretti's race in Italy
To: pekowski_family@yahoogroups.com
Hi Mary,
My dad told me the story when I was a teenager And I thought it was a bicycle race. But you know, I
don’t recall the occasion or why he told me. Flora would be a very good source of information about my
dad’s early years. I heard many stories from him How his younger sister made off with some money he
hid in the roof (Thatched I think). Another where he asked his mother for money for new shoes. She
told him to go ask his father who was visiting friends. His father hit him for embarrassing him in front of
his friends. Once I asked him if he had a good mother. He said in typical Italian fashion “She was a
saint” He said neighbors would come after she baked bread and ask for some and she always gave it to
them. There are probably more but that’s it for now. Somewhere I heard that Renato’s father shot
himself to avoid conscripton also heard he had a mistress. Never heard about Argentina before. Merry
Christmas and lots of love.
Aunt Adele
From: Goetz, Joan <jgoetz@purdue.edu>
12/9/14
to Karla, Sexton26, Mary, Marianne, Marianne, Teri, me, Nicoletta, Luke, Ed, Edward, Joe
My story is of course are from my mom – Diana Goetz. It was a running race. My memories – where
Renato was told by the other guy’s friends not to win the race (mom called them bullies that later
became the fascist during world war II). Yes mulish he won the race, there was some prize money with
it, but no amount mentioned, so I figure it was small.
Later – 1-2 days, he was trapped by one of the bullies (never said which one) who pushed Renato down
into a stream. Renato did not know if he had a gun but defended himself by picking up a rock in the
stream and hitting the other person in the head. At which point he ran home not knowing if he killed
the person. That night his family sent him out of town to take a boat to USA and live with relative in
Chicago. Renato’s family already had a ticket for the boat as Renato’s older brother was supposed to go
to USA. Late I asked mom if the guy hit by the rock lived and yes he did.
When we visited Renato’s family in Italy- in the late 1960’s – Renato loudly complained about them and
the politics (which in the USA we have freedom to do). His Italian family told him to keep quite as this
will cause problem for them when he left.
Flora’s parents were excellent cooks – seems like mom says they had a restaurant in Chicago – there are
a few Moretti restaurants in northern suburbs of Chicago. This is more recent information – so I’m not
too sure it the restaurant part is correct. But Flora and her mother were excellent cooks and taught
Jenny Moretti how to cook many items. Spaghetti sauce was made from scratch, even grinding her own
meat.
Grandma use to make homemade ravioli and I would come up the night before and keep her company
and fork the four edges closed. She had to stop making them when she moved to Wheaton because
they did not dry correctly in the new house and got moldy. My favorite food that I have only tasted
once at a German festival was the peach or plum cobbler. I use to sit and keep her company when she
cut the fruit up and put it on top on the doe. Rachel tried to make something similar but it was not
exact. If anyone finds the receipt or ask Flora – I would love to have it.
Joan
From: Ray Pekowski
12/9/14
to pekowski, Lynda, Amanda, Anthony, Andrew
And the legend goes on some more...
From: Mary Cerny
12/9/14
to Joan, Marianne, Marianne, Teri, me, Nicoletta, Luke, Ed, Edward, Joe, Karla, Sexton26
Ha the legend gets better and better! By the way Joan, Flora always brags that she's the one who
taught Grandma Jenny how to cook and the ravioli & spaghetti she made was her families
recipes. Next time we see Flora, we will ask her about the families restaurant? I noticed there
were Moretti Restaurants in the suburbs of Chicago. I googled bicycle racing in Perugia, Italy and it sounds like it was quite popular from 1800-1935. Thanks for the info Joan!
Mary