Julia Filomena Bartolotti

January 9, 1924 - March 15, 2021

Julia Filomena was born January 9, 1924 in Morenci, Arizona. Her Italian immigrant father worked in the local copper mines. Her mother was also born in Morenci. Julia’s father, Leonardo, died when she was just over a year old. Her older sister, Mary, died at the age of 4 when Julia was almost 3.

In 1927 Julia’s mother, Catherine, moved to Los Angeles and married a widower, Joe DiCarlo, with two children. Julia grew up in that family that added two younger brothers in 1928 and 1930. The family lived on 92nd Street near Compton Avenue. By 1940 the family had moved to a house on Compton Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets where they remained until 1970.

Julia graduated from Fremont High School in 1942 and then attended beautician school. She then got a job in a beauty salon.

During World War II Julia’s cousin’s fiancé brought home a fellow Marine stationed at El Toro Marine Base for Sunday dinner. His name was Joe Bartolotti. Joe and Julia were married July 27, 1946.

The couple purchased a new house on Benares Street in Downey in 1951. Their first child, Judy, was born that April. Their second child, Joe, was born in July 1957. Both kids attended Downey schools, graduating from Warren High School.

Judy was married in 1970, a union that produced three granddaughters over the next decade. The granddaughters grew up in close contact with their grandparents, who doted on them.

Joe and Julia loved to travel, always by car and mostly in California.

Joe died unexpectedly in 1996, just shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. Julia remained in the Downey house until 2018, when she moved into assisted living in La Palma. She passed away there on March 15, 2021 at the age of 97. She is survived by one younger brother, Tony DiCarlo, her daughter Judy Muehlebach (Paul), son Joe Bartolotti, and granddaughters Kathie, Jennifer, and Courtney Muehlebach.