Clara Marie Giuliano

Nicoletta Marie “Clara” Giuliano was born to Pasquale and Josephina Carestia who immigrated to the United States in the early 1800’s. Clara was born in a coal mining camp in Colorado on May 21, 1934, making her first generation American. She quickly earned her princess status as she was the youngest of eight children. She grew up in Williamsburg where she truly had to walk down a hill across a gully and up a hill to school. As she repeated the route home, only in the other direction, she truly did “walk uphill both directions”.

She attended Florence High School where she met the love of her life Jack Giuliano. He was a big man on campus and she was shy but their love was strong and prevailed even after Jack joined the Navy. She graduated in 1952. Even though Clara was dating another young man, while home on leave Jack proposed to her at a 4 way stop sign after taking her to dinner. Clara told him she didn’t want to be proposed to at a stop sign, so he found a place to park and proposed more appropriately. They were married three weeks later on March 6, 1954 and Clara joined Jack in Honolulu where he was stationed.

Clara’s dream of being a mother was fulfilled times four with Liz (02/03/1955), John (06/18/1958), Lori (06/24/1961) and Lisa (05/21/1963) born on Clara’s 29th birthday. Clara was devoted to her family. She helped Jack rewire motors in the 1960s after he graduated from CSU and opened Jack’s Electric and as his company expanded from motors to building homes she became his bookkeeper. She was always involved in school activities making costumes for school productions, baking cookies for bake sales and attending sporting and cheerleading events. She was an amazing cook making spaghetti, ravioli, cavatelli and meatballs all from scratch. In fact her children did not know you could purchase premade pasta until well into their teens.

She loved to travel and travel she did. She and Jack travelled to England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Caribbean Islands, Alaska and many other states and several European countries. Her most notable trip was to Italy with Jack and all her kids and grandchildren, 19 in all, to Italy in 2005 to meet her Italian relatives on her father’s side. She loved to snow ski and she and Jack bought a cabin in Breckenridge and spent every weekend for many years skiing with her family. It was always all about “family”. She also went skiing on a ski bus with her many friends for many winters. She was an avid golfer and played on women’s leagues for many years.

Thanks to her children and three son-in-laws, Mitch, Tim and Steve and a daughter-in-law Patti, Clara was ecstatic to become a grandmother to nine grandchildren: Marina (Tom), Nicholetta (Zach), Jake, Blake (Casey), John Michael, Allison (Chris), Samantha (Lane) , Dani (Scott) and Todd (Peggy). Her grandchildren were always grateful for their grandmother and grandfather’s constant presence at their hockey games, roller hockey games, dance competitions, softball games, golf games, basketball games and horse competitions. However, she was in heaven when she became a grandmother to FIFTEEN great-grandchildren; Tucker, Toby, Barrett, Paxton, Stryker, Banks, Mason, Blakely, Bryar, Ledger, Robert, Ashley, Timothy (Jessica), Susan (Conner), Cassandra and Brenna. They were the new generation that gave her energy and purpose.

After Jack’s passing in 2019, Clara moved to Mackenzie Place where she resided until her passing. She was blessed with many new friends with whom she played Mojong, Mexican train, wheel of fortune and balloon volleyball. She went on excursions, did crafts and sang in the choir. Her kids and grandchildren attended her choir performances and the great-grandchildren would always bring her flowers.

Clara was loving, warm and generous. She was a devout Catholic. Her primary focus was her family and she left a long familial legacy. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends will miss her deeply!

A public visitation for Clara will be held Monday, July 21, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Allnutt Funeral Service – Drake Road Chapel, 650 W. Drake Rd., Ft. Collins, Colorado 80526.

A rosary will occur Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 300 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, followed by her funeral mass.

Following Clara's funeral mass, a precession to her graveside service at 11:00 AM at Grandview Cemetery, 1900 W Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80521.

After Clara's interment, a celebration of life will take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at MacKenzie Place Lodge, 4750 Pleasant Oak Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525.