 Born as one of six children in Faller, Sovramonte, Province of Belluno, Italy, Rech's parents emigrated to Dudelange, in southern Luxembourg, when he was one year old, in order for Rech's father to work in the Arbed steel mill.They lived in Dudelange's Italian Quarter, speaking Italian in everyday life and retaining Italian traditions.Despite this, Rech didn't return to Italy until the age of 35, having naturalised as a Luxembourgian citizen in 1956.