Giuliana Brogi Sepe Obituary (1922

Giuliana Brogi Sepe passed away on Monday, October 8, 2018, at the young age of 95. She was always young at heart, with an almost childlike innocence, eternal optimism, and a keen sense of curiosity. Giuliana was born in Siena, Italy, and despite the hardships brought on by two wars, often impoverished conditions, various illnesses and losses of those she loved, she maintained an exuberance for life and a passion for new adventures. A true Sienese, she admired the aesthetics that life offered; flowers, sunshine, nature, art, and especially music, having worked for Count Chigi at the prestigious Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena. She herself was very talented, creating art through various mediums, often combining her love of nature with her skill at painting. She perfected "acrylics on rock" long before anyone else starting painting on stones. It was not unusual for the trunk of her car, or the pockets of her coats, to be filled with rocks, collected from her travels, brought home to be transformed by her imagination. She loved to travel with her beloved husband Michael, and they lived in many places throughout their marriage. Giuliana met Michael shortly after she arrived in America in 1955. She knew no English, but was a quick study and within days, found employment in New York City. Soon after, she joined a young fabric and design company called Clarence House, which came to be known as the foremost style-setter in the decorative fabric industry. She was the treasurer of the company for many years, and always a style-setter herself. Yet as fashionable as she was, she would also roll up those stylish sleeves to create the most gastronomically special treats. She was famous among her family for her homemade "cenci," Italian holiday cookies, and her fluffy, light as a cloud, hand-rolled potato gnocchi. She was an avid reader, and she adored the study of history. She believed there was always something new to learn from studying the past. Giuliana was passionate about animals, and was committed to saving them, all of them. In Italy she was the owner of various dogs and cats over the years, including a one and a half year run as the caretaker of Pierre, an MGM lion cub who was gifted to her by film friends. In America, she was devoted to her own dogs Kyra, and later Baci, as well as any furry friend who would cross her path. Dogs knew to go to her and they'd find a treat waiting for them. Even after she no longer had her own dog, she always carried a bag of dog treats "just in case" she came across a four-legged friend. More than anything she loved her family; her husband, her sister, and all of her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Michael Sepe, her niece Diane Amoruso, as well as her sister Nara Amoruso, brother-in-law Victor Amoruso, and sister-in-law Claire Sepe. She leaves behind a brother-in-law Joseph Sepe, and her nephews Raymond Amoruso, Michael Amoruso, Dan Sepe, Steven Sepe, Gregory Sepe, and her nieces Tisha Amoruso Saffa and Lisa Sepe Notaro, as well as their families, including 15 great nieces and nephews. They were all very lucky to call Giuliana Sepe their "Aunt Julie," and will always remember the advice she had for each of them, the motto she lived by for 95 years: "Always be an optimist and always believe you can do anything." A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday October 13th at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick, NJ.