Julia E. Rapisardo

Julia E. (nee Tedoni) Rapisardo, age 93, baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Joseph T. Rapisardo; loving mother of Carol (Don) Lampe, Robert Rapisardo, JoAnn (Steve) Freund, John (Sharon) Rapisardo, Joseph C. Rapisardo; dear grandmother of Nicholas (Jessica) Rapisardo, Amanda (Jacob Smith) Rapisardo, Rachel (Jeff) Bolin, Elaine (Dan) Church, Gretchen (Matt) Nieters, Thomas (Sarah) Rapisardo, Sarah Rapisardo, Kathryn Rapisardo, and Matthew (Taylor) Rapisardo; great grandmother of Jude, Lennon, Astell, Harper, and Brooklyn; dear sister of Anita (the late Paul) Smith, Angie (the late Frank) Tiff, the late Jennie (Jim) Garegnani, and Rosemary (Edward) Reagan; our dear aunt and friend to many.

SERVICES: Visitation 4-8pm Monday, March 13, 2023 Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary 6464 Chippewa, St. louis, MO 63109. Mass of Christian Burial 9:45am Tuesday, March 14, 2023 St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, corner of Pernod & Oleatha, St. Louis, MO 63139. Interment to follow in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorial contributions suggested to The American Heart Association.

BIOGRAPHY:

Julia's life began in St. Louis Mo. on Arsenal Street on July 4 1929 as the third daughter to Italian immigrants, Rose and John Tedoni. She had two older sisters, Jennie and Rosemary, and two younger sisters, Anita and Angie. As a child Julia enjoyed playing house, dress-up, hopscotch and marbles. Her proudest moment was winning a spelling bee at St. Aloysius School. She was unable to complete High School because she had to take a job to help with family finances. During the war she had a job at a dry cleaners and would slip her phone number in the soldiers' uniforms. Later Julia went to secretarial school and worked as a typist and filer. Julia met Joe after he dated her younger sister, Anita, who realized Julia liked him.

We loved getting together every Fourth of July to celebrate her special day. She never wanted to celebrate her birthday on the 3rd or 5th because she was born on the 4th! She loved her life as a firecracker - bursts of energy and brightness for all in her midst. Every time we see fireworks on 4th of July, we will smile and think of her.

Julia and Joe were married on September 2, 1950 at Holy Innocents Catholic Church and had a honeymoon at Pere Marquette Lodge. They were longtime members of Crusaders and Crusaders Wives Clubs with St. Ambrose Church. They bought their first house in 1962 and lived on Dalton Street with their five children for 42 years. Julia was active in school and church activities with St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish. They moved in 2004 to a smaller home on Winona Avenue behind Hampton Village. This home was within walking distance to grocery store, JC Penney and McDonalds. Both her and Joe enjoyed many outdoor walks with other members of the Missouri Walkways Association and achieved the 500 mile milestone.

You could be sure she was in attendance at sports games, dance recitals, graduations and any other special events her grandchildren were in. It was very hard for her to say she could not make it to these events she was invited to as she knew it was important for them that she was there. Every summer she enjoyed going to the Muny performances in Forest Park with her daughter, JoAnn and her three daughters.

After Joe's death in 2011, Julia found her next home as a resident at Our Lady Of Life on Cardinal Ritter Campus. She signed up for many bus trips and joy rides. She was always happy to sit with someone she had not talked to previously. She looked forward to receiving their monthly activity calendar and would check the activities she wanted to participate in. She especially enjoyed playing Dominoes on Monday nights and Liverpool rummy on Thursday nights. Her social calendar was very full. Her children and her grandchildren often had difficulty reaching her, if you were lucky to talk to her, your conversation with her would be a short one and usually ended with her saying "I will let you go now". She loved watching movies especially on TCM and delivery of a Netflix movie in the mail. Julia was friendly and respectful of anyone she would encounter. She never had trouble striking up a conversation with anyone she would meet. Always willing to listen to others and calling herself the "listener". Julia looked forward to sharing meals and conversation in the Dining Room with her friends. You would often find her carrying a bag with a supply of snacks and small bottle of water.

She was so unique in many ways as she treasured the cards, notes and gifts she received for her birthday, anniversaries and holidays. Always noting the date she received it AND a date the thank you note was sent. She would write reminder notes on the smallest scrap of paper. Most of the time, she was the only one to read the note and sometimes she could not.

She never complained despite her health issues and it did not stop her from doing her daily activities. After enduring a long stay in rehab, her goal was always to get back to her apartment at Our Lady of Life. We were amazed at her strong will and determination to make that happen. Everyone was blessed to have known her. She was such a kind and loving person. We will miss her smile and words of wisdom.