Julia F. Defranco, 94, of Johnsonburg, died Friday morning, July 30, 2021 at her residence after a long and blessed life. She was born on June 21, 1927 in Johnsonburg the 5th of 19 children to the late Joseph and Frances Carino Gigliotti. As a member of the largest family in Johnsonburg, she experienced living in a house with so many other people and sharing a bedroom with 6 other girls! But, even with that many people in one home, she always said they were never hungry, and always had clean clothes to wear.

She was a lifelong resident of Johnsonburg and a graduate of Johnsonburg High School. She enjoyed reading, especially sci-fi and mysteries, watching TV, NCIS was a favorite, and listening to Tony Bennett.

In 1950 she met Roy A. "Stony" Defranco and after a 4 year courtship, they were married on May 8, 1954 in Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg. She and Stoney bought a house on a hill which she lived in until the end of her life, but for the first time ever, when Stoney precede her in death on December 11, 2012, she had lived by herself.

Julia spent most of her married life as a homemaker, where her family reaped the benefit of her awesome cooking. Earlier in her life as a young woman she had worked multiple jobs, some of which include as a clerk a Marrone's Grocery store and as an usher at the local theater, which she used to help provide for her younger brothers and sisters.

Stony and Jay have 4 children which survive; Joe Defranco of Knoxville, TN, Mary Defranco of Ridgway, Dan Defranco of Wilcox and Rocco Defranco of Johnsonburg. Her youngest child, Rocco, gave Julia the grandchildren she had not so patiently been waiting for. Brent and her namesake Julia Defranco have been the joys of her later years. She is also survived by brothers Edward Gigliotti of Johnsonburg, Tom Gigliotti and his wife Mary of Horseheads, NY and David Gigliotti of Johnsonburg and sisters; Barbara FitzSimmons of Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Kathy Scanish of Kersey.

Besides her parents and husband, she is also predeceased by brothers; Frank, Steve, Butts, George, Jiggs, Jim, Butch, John and Michael and her sisters; Lucy Fedorko, Mary Camardo, Helen Costanzo and Margee Gigliotti.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Julia F. Defranco to be conducted at Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg on Monday August 9, 2021 at 10 AM with Fr. David Wilson, Pastor as celebrant. Interment will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Johnsonburg.

Friends will be received at the Anthony F Ferragine Funeral Home and Cremation Services Chapel 401 Chestnut Street Johnsonburg, Pa on Monday August 9, 2021 from 8:30 AM until service time.

If desired, memorial contributions should be made to Penn Highlands Community Nurses Home Hospice, 757 Johnsonburg Rd., St. Marys, PA 15857 or to the Elk County Office of Aging, 108 Center St., Ridgway, PA or if one so desires, consider helping a stranger, friend or family member in need.