Julianne Vagnozzi

She was born in West Virginia and was eight months of age when her family moved to California. She completed graduate studies in liturgy and music at Mount St. Mary, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching credential at Cal Poly Pomona. Most recently, she joyfully ministered at her alma mater Pomona Catholic School in the Development Office and as school liturgist.

Sister Julianna has been a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, also known as the Felician Sisters, for nearly forty-seven years. She enjoyed many careers, including teacher, Director of Liturgy, children’s choir director, caregiver, archivist, presenter, and California coordinator of the Felician Lay Associates. Working with children’s choirs was one of her greatest and most treasured joys. She served in many Catholic schools, parishes, and communities in Midwest City, Oklahoma; Rio Rancho, New Mexico; and Anaheim, Arcadia, Claremont, and Pomona in California.

Sr. Julianna was a talented singer, writer, and presenter. She recorded two albums with Sisters in Song, a national choir of women religious, and sang in the Papal Choir for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Los Angeles. She wrote articles for numerous publications and presented for parishes, conferences and schools on the liturgy and praying with the San Damiano Cross. Sr. Julianna will be remembered forever by family and friends for her beautiful “Ave Maria” solo, her favorite song to offer in prayer at weddings and other events.

She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Joseph Vagnozzi. She is survived by her four sisters, Joanne Vagnozzi, Janice Celio (Joseph), Joyce Vagnozzi, and Jeannette Vagnozzi, nephews John (Sarah), Mark (Kristin), and Christopher (Theresa) Celio, and ten great nieces and nephews who put the sparkle in Sr. Julianna’s eyes.

As a Beloved Daughter of God, her hope was to help others find their true voice in their conversations with God through her example and words.

Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph Church in Upland, California, on January 10, 2025. The Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m. She will be interred at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, to support her love and sisterhood with Pomona Catholic School, donations may be sent in Sr. Julianna’s name to the Vagnozzi Family Scholarship Fund at Pomona Catholic School, 533 W. Holt Blvd., Pomona, CA 91768, or https://pomonacatholicschool.factsmgtadmin.com/give/