Julia Arseneault

It is with sadness in our hearts that we announce that Julia Olive (Castellani) Arseneault, 96, of Worcester, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2014, in Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born on July 8th 1918, in East Douglas, Julia was the first of five children born to the late, Emedio and Anna M. (Fresolo) Castellani. Julia is survived by her brother, Nunzio J. "Sonny" Castellani and his wife Mary of Redlands, CA; many nieces, nephews and extended family members. She was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Gaetano Castellani and a sister, Carmella Zolla. After graduating from Commerce High School, Julia was self-employed until WW II started. She then became a "Rosie the Riveters" replacing the men going off to war at Johnson Steel & Wire making war materials. Upon the end of the War, Julia was more than happy to relinquish her position accepting a sales/cashier job with the former JC McInnis Department Store. She then worked as a bookkeeper in the Treasurer's Office for the Worcester County Retirement System at The Worcester District Court House, beginning in 1957 and retiring in 1977. She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Saint Ann Church and the Massachusetts Association for the Blind. Julia was a remarkable woman with a memory that boarded on Savant. At any time she could recite the day, time and year each and every one of her family members and relatives were born. Although legally blind with macular degeneration, she candlepin bowled in the high 80's, danced and was interested in New England Sports. Julia was also a talented musician, and at one time lead an all-girl band. Some of Julia's fondest memories were family get-togethers, where along with her uncle and cousin, they would play all the old time favorite songs into the wee hours of the morning. There are many people who made Julia's last days comfortable, but none more than Gina (Castellani) Czerwinski and her husband Peter. Your tender loving care for Julia, will never be forgotten. A Funeral Service for Julia will be held on Saturday, August 30, at 10 a.m. in Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. A Calling Hour will be held on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the funeral home, just before the service. Interment will follow in Saint John's Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 24 Mulberry Street, Worcester, MA 01605.