Julia Castello

Julia Livia Castello was a woman of boundless generosity, incredible talent, and a deep love for her family. She passed away peacefully on May 24, 2026, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of warmth that will never be forgotten.
Born on July 20, 1936, Julia spent her entire life making sure her home was a safe place and a welcoming haven for anyone who walked through the door. She married the love of her life, Vincent Castello, and together they shared 66 amazing years filled with love, laughter, endless adventures, and family. Julia was the ultimate matriarch, raising her children with ideals deeply rooted in faith and a strong belief that family always comes first. Her children warmly recount their Sundays together, which always started with meatballs for breakfast, followed by church, and ended with a house full of family, friends and neighbors.
If you knew Julia, you knew you’d never leave her house hungry. She was remembered for always opening her doors to a crowd. To Julia, family not only meant the people in her home, but extended to her community on Central Ave to Kunkletown Pennsylvania.
Think of those unforgettable Sunday dinners in Massapequa with her famous gravy simmering on the stove, finger pinching a pie crust for the Westend County Fair or the beautiful, bustling Italian Christmas Eve dinners complete with her cherished Christmas nativity pageants. Julia always wanted to include everyone, which is how summers at their dream ranch in Pennsylvania became a beloved tradition. It wasn’t just for her own kids; her nieces and nephews were always there, too. Those golden summer days were packed with endless adventures-riding their beloved horse Paco, piling on for tractor rides, tearing up the dirt bike trails, taking sunny trips to the lake, and drinking fresh milk straight from the dairy farm. Over the years, these ranch trips morphed into incredible family vacations across the world-to Alaska, Ireland, and Italy, to name a few. Because of Julia’s big heart, those nieces and nephews grew up to be their best friends.
Her creativity and drive didn’t stop in the kitchen, either. Julia was a gifted seamstress.
She was always the first to jump at the opportunity to help anyone in need, never once complaining. Whether she was reupholstering dining room chairs, stitching together beautiful Christmas outfits and creative Halloween costumes, or even out in the yard helping build a pergola, there was truly nothing she couldn’t do. She perfectly hemmed prom dresses for her grandchildren, but the absolute best memories are the custom, homemade birthday hats she lovingly crafted for each grandchild, every single year. It was her special way of making each one of them feel incredibly unique and loved.
Julia’s warm spirit lives on through the family she adored so much. She is survived by her devoted husband, Vincent; her five children, Angela and Richard Buckley, Vincent
Castello and Corinne VonHolt, Gemma and Michael Solomos, Lawrence and Lisa Castello, and Maria and Charles Martin; her 13 cherished grandchildren; and her 5 adored great-grandchildren. She will be missed dearly, but her family will continue to celebrate her, laugh together, and keep her traditions alive around the table.
We take comfort in knowing that Julia has been joyfully reunited at the gates of heaven with her mother, father, and two brothers. “As she walks in the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, she is finally at peace. He speaks, and the sound of His voice is sweet, and she now walks with Him, and talks with Him, and He tells her she is His own.”- In the Garden by Rosemary Siemens