Gilda “Jill” Giuliano, 92, a lifelong resident of Lansdale, PA, died peacefully on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Elm Terrace Garden, where she lived the past twenty years.
Gilda was born at home, on 7th Street and Maple Avenue, on February 15th, 1932. The fourth of five of Gerardo and Pellegrina Giuliano’s children, she graduated from Saint Stanislaus Grade School and then from Lansdale High in 1949. She was a lifelong member of St. Stanislaus Church. Her first job out of High School was as a Clerk at a Puritan Raincoat factory in Lansdale until 1955. Between 1955 and 1963, Gilda worked as Administrative and Executive Secretary at Teleflex Inc., Leeds and Northrop, and Transaction Management. Following one year as Office Manager at Julie Associates, Inc. in Billerica, MA, she was an Executive Secretary for Merck Sharp and Dohme’s West Point campus.
Jill spent the summer of 1965 as a Clerk for NASA’s Office of Internal Affairs in Washington, DC. While working days, she attended night classes at Gwynedd-Mercy, graduated, and received her Bachelor’s degree in 1970. After completing Post Grad work at PSU, Jill worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a Lay Teacher and taught Fifth Grade at Saint Stan’s for thirteen years before finishing her working career as an Executive Secretary at Merck in 1995 when she retired. She often said,
“Looking back on it all, the most satisfying and gratifying work I ever did was teaching those fifth-grade kids.”
Jill enjoyed traveling anywhere, which she did throughout her life, often with her best friend and sister, Josephine. Together, they watched President John F Kennedy’s inauguration in Washington, DC. They took bus trips and car rides to the Poconos, Lancaster, PA, and all the beaches in New Jersey—to Branson, MO, and along the East Coast to Camden, ME, and flights to Las Vegas, California, Italy, a few times, and Egypt.
Jill was born a teacher, always eager to learn, and never missed an opportunity to teach. When the school looked for catechetical instructors, she signed up. When children from Italy needed help with English, Gilda taught them at home. It was not unusual for her to come home late from her school-teaching job because a child missed the bus or a parent forgot to pick them up. Jill drove or walked them home and helped with their homework on the way. That was an opportunity for her—never a chore.
In her young years, she never stopped singing. So, she took great pride in passing an audition to sing in the church choir.
Gilda was the family baker and was primarily responsible for the bread, cakes, and cookies featured at Easter, Christmas, and other special events. Biscotti was her favorite thing to make, and she handed them out freely to satisfy cravings and pain from babies’ teething. She taught anyone willing to listen and learn the recipe and technique for perfectly made, formed, and toasted biscotti. Seeing a cousin with biscotti sitting next to her on her last days was fitting.
Jill enjoyed being a witty and kind Great Aunt to her legion of nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren. Whether it was a trip to the movies, theater, zoo – Norristown, Allentown, Lancaster, Philadelphia – it didn’t matter. And cards. She was responsible for sending a little cash in whatever card fit the occasion – Births, Baptisms, Confirmations, Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Easter, and Christmas. Family mattered, and she wanted them all to know that, wherever they were, she loved and cared for them. She would be there whatever the occasion and wherever it was if invited.
Gilda is survived by her brother Jerry, who, along with his wife Audrey, currently lives in Wakefield, MA. She was predeceased by her parents, oldest sibling Giuseppina, “Josie,” and brothers Nicola, “Nick”, and Luigi, “Lou” Giuliano.
Relatives and friend’s are invited to attend Gilda’s Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 10:30 AM at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 51 Lansdale Ave, Lansdale, PA 19446, where her family will receive friends from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM, in Church, prior to Mass. Interment will be in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery, which adjoins the Church.
In lieu of flowers donations in Jill’s name can be made to Mater Dei Catholic School, and mailed to 493 E Main St, Lansdale, PA 19446 or online at https://www.materdeicatholic.com/giving. Please make note “In Memory of Gilda Giuliano”.