Julia Bastianelli

Julia, of Farmington Hills, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, peacefully passed into eternal life on Monday evening, January 20, 2025. She was 94 years old. Julia's remarkable life spanned nearly a century, filled with resilience, love, and devotion to her family. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the people she loved.
Julia was born on November 18, 1930, in the small mountain town of Picinisco, Italy, located about 90 miles from Rome. Growing up in this close-knit community, where many neighbors were also relatives, Julia learned the importance of family bonds early in life. She lived on a modest farm that provided sustenance for her family, along with a little extra that could be traded or sold. However, Julia's early years were shaped by the devastation of World War II, during which Italy was occupied by German forces. At just 13 years old, Julia witnessed the horrors of war, including the loss of loved ones and the destruction of her town, which was part of the Germans' last defensive line of Rome. With her father and older brother working in Detroit, Julia, her mother, and two sisters had to rely on each other for survival, forging the unbreakable familial bonds that would define her character for the rest of her life.
At the age of 17, Julia left Italy in 1947 to seek a better future in the United States. Arriving in Detroit with little more than hope and determination, she was faced with the daunting task of learning a new language and culture. Enrolled in school with children much younger than her, Julia endured ridicule but never wavered in her determination. Her perseverance paid off when she became a comptometer operator, a skill that helped her secure work for several businesses, culminating in a 30-year career with Sears at the Livonia Mall, where she worked in inventory control.
In 1954, Julia met the love of her life, Romeo, while he was delivering grapes to her father for winemaking. Their connection was immediate, and they were married shortly thereafter. Together, they raised three children-Larry, Linda, and Cindy-and became an integral part of the St. Agatha Parish community in Redford Township, where Julia was active in supporting her children's education and extracurricular activities. After the children graduated from high school, Julia and Romeo moved to Farmington Hills and became members of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Julia's children always enjoyed people's reactions upon being told that their parents are "Romeo and Juliette"!
On December 20, 1988, tragedy struck when Romeo passed away unexpectedly from cancer at the age of 60. Julia, devastated by the loss, leaned on her children, extended family, and close friends-especially her sister, Anna Russo, her sister-in-law, Merinda DeLuca, and cousins Romeo and Nat-for support. Despite the heartache, Julia found strength in her family and continued to work for a few more years before retiring from Sears.
Following her retirement, Julia partnered with her sister Anna to start a small business making homemade pasta for local restaurants. Their pasta-making gatherings became beloved family traditions, with extended family members coming together to can tomatoes, make sausages, and celebrate life through food. After Anna's death in 1999, Julia continued the pasta business with Anna's husband, Frank. Their work together helped them cope with the loss of their spouses and provided the opportunity to indulge in their shared love of playing the slots at local casinos and on trips to Las Vegas. She also became an avid bowler, joining a women's league and enjoying the camaraderie and competition.
In addition to her deep love for her children, Julia was an adored grandmother. She helped raise her granddaughter, Marcie, after the unexpected death of her son-in-law Bill, and continued to care for her grandchildren, Nicole and Jennifer, during the summer months. As her dementia progressed, Julia's love for her family remained constant. Her face would always light up with joy whenever she saw her great-grandchildren, and her nurturing spirit never wavered. She was always there with extra hands for bottles and rocking them to sleep.
Julia was also an avid traveler, venturing to places such as Italy, Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona, Greece, and Mexico. She remained active into her late 80s, playing bocce with her family and continuing her passion for bowling, achieving a 140 average until the age of 86. Even in her later years, she was known for her independent spirit, never relying on a walker or wheelchair, and often found rearranging furniture or taking walks with fellow residents at her care facility.
Julia was the last surviving member of her family's generation that immigrated from Italy to the United States in search of the American Dream. Her life was a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and she embodied the values of hard work, family, and love. Through her actions, she showed all who knew her how to treat family like friends and friends like family. Her legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched with her kindness, humor, and unwavering love.
Julia is survived by her three children, Larry (Karen) Bastianelli, Linda (the late Bill) Swan, and Cindy (Frank) Hicks; her grandchildren, Marcie Swan, Nicole (Dan) Clement, and Jennifer (Phil) Hertrich; her great-grandchildren, Vivian and Nathan Clement and Griffin and Roman Hertrich; and a brother-in-law, Ludwig "Bo" Bastianelli. In addition to her husband, Julia was also preceded in death by siblings, Larry and Nancy Cervi, and Anna (the late Frank) Russo.
The Bastianelli family will receive guests for visitation at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, downtown Farmington, on Friday, January 24, from 3-8 pm. A time of prayer and remembrances is planned for 7 pm.
Julia's funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23615 Power Rd., Farmington, on Saturday morning, January 25, at 10:00 am. Entombment will follow in the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum in Southfield. The family will receive friends at the church before mass from 9:30-10 am to share stories and celebrate the life of this extraordinary woman.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society.
Julia's love for her family and the example she set through her strength and resilience will remain in our hearts forever. May she rest in peace, surrounded by the love and memories of those she touched throughout her incredible life.