Westborough – Julia P. (Papagni) Amorelli, 87, passed away Tuesday Oct. 25, 2011 with family by her side after a period of declining health.
She is survived by her devoted children, Vito Amorelli of Marlborough, Frank Amorelli Jr. and his wife Lelia of Shrewsbury, Patricia Amorelli of Fiskdale, Carlo Amorelli of Salem, and Anthony Amorelli and his wife Maury of Phoenix, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and friends. Her husband, Frank Amorelli Sr., and brother, Lawrence Papagni, predeceased her.
Born in the Shrewsbury Street section of Worcester, the daughter of Pasquale and Lucia (Ventura) Papagni, she spent part of her childhood in Brooklyn N.Y. While attending school, they found her to be very bright, moving her ahead of her peers. She was gifted in music with her voice and was offered, at the age of seven, a position in the New York City Opera, singing in various choirs in New York and Worcester.
Mrs. Amorelli held several positions over her working years. She began long before the term “Rosie the Riveter” became popular and continued working during World War II. She worked for the former Baker Box Company in support of the War effort, and as a injection molding machinist for the plastics industry. She also volunteered for the Red Cross sending care packages to serviceman in War zones during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
She then worked for Sprague Electric in Quality control and notably her name, among others, was inscribed on a computer chip that now remains on the moon. Lastly, she worked for Greentree Marketing Incorporated before she retired.
Mrs. Amorelli was a very religious person who loved God and family. She was a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Church, and would attend regularly Mass and adoration times with her daughter. She loved to travel and could, from time to time, be found to leave on an adventure at a whim. She, her husband and children loved to prospect. She collected rocks and minerals from such places as Arizona.
She enjoyed cooking, reading, her religion, flying kites, trips to Brookfield orchards, music and especially the times she could spend with her family. She recently spoke on continuing her education. She was an Italian mother who thought family was the center of her universe and was always there for them. In her children's youth, she was involved as a den mother for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Blue Birds.
The family of Mrs. Amorelli would like to express their thanks to all the relatives and friends who supported, cared for and expressed compassion during her illness.
Her funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 28, at 9.m., at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester, with a Mass at 10:30 am in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 1 Ruggles St., Westborough. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery of Worcester. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the family Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the funeral home.
