Giulia DiStefano

An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Giulia, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Giulia really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Giulia was born on December 19, 1931 in Alexandria, Egypt. Her parents were Giovanni Tepedeno and Elena Carivea. Even as a child, Giulia had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Giulia was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and easing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Giulia managed to find satisfying solutions to basic problems. Giulia was raised with one sibling, a brother, named Arturo Leon.

      Giulia's playful humor carried her through childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination, and an enthusiasm for life that allowed her to constantly be on the go. As a result, Giulia experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. Giulia's memorable achievements included speaking five languages.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Giulia was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention, rather, Giulia simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends having a good time. It could be said that for Giulia, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, although she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Giulia's best teacher, she enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory", and so on. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class was sewing.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Giulia very easy to approach. On May 19, 1954 Giulia exchanged wedding vows with Giuseppe Di Stefano in Cairo, Egypt. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to the feelings of others, and that was especially true in her marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Giulia related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Giulia was blessed with three children, Roy, Larry, and Elena--and later, eight grandchildren, and even three great-grandchildren. Giulia had the innate ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Giulia's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, she had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games. Giulia was also an avid soccer fan and enjoyed watching her favorite teams whenever she got the chance.

      At work, as in life, Giulia was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Giulia liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Giulia was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Giulia's talent for being a down-to-earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Giulia as an excellent problem solver. She was employed as a seamstress.

      Giulia enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Giulia liked creating and making things. Her favorite was needlepoint. Many of her needlepoints hang proudly in the homes of her friends and family. She was content in enjoying her hobbies alone but was also quick to share her interests with others, offering her wisdom and experience.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Giulia recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of St. George's church.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Giulia just fine. It's no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Her favorite places to visit included Greece, Italy, Cancun, Hawaii, and Egypt.

      Giulia was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Giulia's favorites was her cat, Keko. They were best friends for 13 years. Her family was rounded out by her dogs, Samson and Lady.

      Giulia believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Giulia remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, she found new pleasure in vacation. She loved going out to her favorite restaurants with her family. Even in retirement, Giulia continued to stay in touch with her old friends and made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Giulia passed away on June 3, 2022, at home. She is survived by her children: Roy, Larry, and Elena; her grandchildren: Christi, Tony, Joey, Daniel, Christopher, Giulia, Eric, and Alex; and great-grandchildren: Alli, Ava, Sean, and Sonny. Services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Giulia was laid to rest at La Vista Memorial Park.

      Giulia brought joy to all of those around her. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and zest for life with her friends and family. She will be remembered with a smile.