Julia Ann Marcarelli

Julia Ann Marcarelli (née Ciampoli), 95, passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 70 years, Ralph. She is survived by five of their seven children, Patrice (Michael McKinney), Ralph, Gregory, Christine Myers, and Andrew, and predeceased by their two daughters, Julianne (Jim) Costello and Monica. As "Nonni," she leaves behind six grandchildren, Nicole (Rob) Edelhauser, Elysia (Jack) Sleeper, Stefanie Eberhart, Julia (Christopher) Grabbatin, Thomas (Bree) Costello, and Andrea McKinney, as well as seven great-grandchildren.

Julia was born on December 5, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA as the fourth of five children to Anthony and Ermenia Ciampoli. She was preceded in death by her brother and sisters.

Growing up, Julia attended Catholic school, which influenced her to seriously consider becoming a nun. But fortunately for her descendants, she changed her mind. After graduating high school, she attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. As one of the few women in her class, she was a proud sister of the Kappa Epsilon professional sorority for pharmacists. She graduated in 1951 and began working as a pharmacist.

In 1952, she met Ralph G. Marcarelli, also a pharmacist, while at her brother Harold's dental office. After a whirlwind romance, they married on May 16, 1953. They started a family and moved to Broomall, PA, where they began raising their seven children. After Ralph grew tired of the cold and icy Pennsylvania winters, their family relocated to the sunnier climes of Southern California in 1965, settling in Huntington Beach, CA in 1966.

Having taken time away from work to raise her family, Julia returned to work as a pharmacist. She eventually became the Director of Pharmacy at a local hospital, where she won many Halloween contests with her elaborate costumes.

Despite moving across the country from her family, Julia remained close to her sisters, Jean and Gloria, for the rest of their lives. The three sisters talked often, jokingly referred to themselves as “The Andrews Sisters,” and traveled together as often as they could. Julia was thrilled when Gloria moved to Southern California and looked forward to the winter months that Jean and her husband, Richard, would spend in Southern California as respite from the Northeastern weather. They always enjoyed epic pinochle games, great food, and many laughs.

After retiring, Julia and Ralph traveled all over the world, including throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, often on cruises, sending postcards to their grandchildren from every destination. Julia and Ralph shared their love of cruising with their grandchildren, taking three on a Disney cruise and the other three on an Alaskan adventure cruise.

As an adult, Julia embraced numerous creative outlets. She took oil painting classes and painted still lifes and seascapes late into the night in her garage. Julia cultivated a bountiful rose garden in the front of her Huntington Beach home, composing beautiful bouquets that she would bring to family, neighbors, and friends. She delighted in watching hummingbirds flit across her garden and congregate around the feeder she maintained for them. Julia was a prolific knitter, crafting blankets, sweaters, and scarves for her loved ones; she also shared this talent by patiently teaching her grandchildren how to knit. In her later years, Julia volunteered with the Assistance League and at the local community theater as an usher.

Julia also enjoyed playing card games, particularly pinochle, gin, bridge, blackjack, and electronic poker, and adored playing Chinese checkers with her grandchildren. She enthusiastically took water aerobics classes for over 20 years and savored outings to walk on the Huntington Beach pier and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Julia loved watching professional sports, such as basketball, baseball, and football, and particularly relished attending live sporting events with her son-in-law.

She was famed in her family for making delicious traditional Italian American treats such as biscotti, pizelles, crescent cookies, and pizza di ricotta. She passed this love of baking to her children and grandchildren. With her husband, Julia hosted their large extended family and many friends for all holidays and special occasions; guests always looked forward to her famous lasagna at Christmas dinner.

Whether it was as “Julia,” “Jules,” “Mom,” “Nonni,” or “Auntie Julie,” Julia Marcarelli was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her.

Her family is immensely grateful to the many caregivers who gave Julia excellent care over the past eight years. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that if you would like to celebrate this eminently kind, generous, funny, and gracious woman, please donate to your favorite charity or plant a rosebush or tree in her honor.