Julia Smaldino

YOUNGSTOWN - A Mass of Catholic Burial will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Christine Church for Julia C. Smaldino, 87, who passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday.

Julia was born Feb. 12, 1931, in Hubbard, a daughter of the late James and Lucy (Carano) Vernello.

Julia graduated from Hubbard High School.

She married her husband, Dominic Smaldino, on April 24, 1954, and built a home in Youngstown. She devoted her life to raising her three sons. Julia was very proud of her family, with her greatest joy being her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the Austintown Seniors and enjoyed bowling at Wedgwood Lanes. Julia was known for her feisty, yet good sense of humor. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.

She leaves her two sons, Michael (Donna) Smaldino of Youngstown, and Donald (Cynthia) Smaldino of Austintown; a daughter-in-law, Pamela Smaldino of Austintown; eight grandchildren, Jason (Kim) Smaldino, Joseph Smaldino, Jessica (Dustin) Blakeman, Kimberly (Nicholas) Bodak, Dominic Smaldino, Mary Theresa Smaldino, Nicole Smaldino, and Christopher (Alexa) Smaldino; and six great-grandchildren, Cassie, Lauren, Kadin, Giovanni, Lena, and Brynn.

Julia was reunited with her husband, Dominic Smaldino; her son, Timothy Smaldino; five sisters, Louise Borecki, Rita Bolchalk, Carmel Sisco-DePaul, Rae McGee, and Ann Dunn; and three brothers, Louis, John and James Vernell.

Family and friends may call on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at St. Christine Church. She will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery.