Julianne Dorothy Maruzzella, age 87, died on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at her home in Somers, New York. She was born on Jan. 20, 1931, in New York City to Herbert and Julia Anne (Duffy) Sinnett. Julianne attended Good Council College and obtained her master’s degree from the College of New Rochelle.

Julianne spent over 40 years as an educator. She began as the owner/director of a nursery school in Pelham, New York. Subsequently, she served as an early childhood teacher, a school-wide learning specialist and as a technology consultant in the Mount Vernon School District, Mount Vernon, New York. She was a tenacious and knowledgeable educator who diagnosed and prescribed individualized programs in reading, math and language arts, emphasizing students’ strengths and ensuring that each student’s potential was achieved. In fact, her second grade classroom was designated a model classroom for the district. She was then appointed an adjunct professor/mentor and field supervisor, first at Fordham University Graduate School of Education in New York City and later at Iona College, New Rochelle, New York. In these university/college positions she was responsible for observing individual interns in the classroom and providing guidance and assistance in all phases of teaching, including curriculum development, classroom management and assessment strategies.

On Sept. 5, 1953, she married Hector C. Maruzzella. They spent over 50 years together. Their photo albums show their passion for travel and dining around the world. Julianne was a movie buff and loved to discuss film with her family. She was fiercely independent and a role model to many. She had a quick wit and an infectious laugh. She is survived by her five children, Julianne (George) Efremidis, Andrianna Reppert, Peter (Jerilyn) Maruzzella, Michael (Annette) Maruzzella and Matthew Maruzzella; 11 grandchildren, Nicole (Doug) Williams, Kristin Reppert, Michael (Shannon) Reppert, Matthew Efremidis, Nicholas Efremidis, Peter Maruzzella, Stephen Maruzzella, Ross Guida, Zach Guida, Alex Maruzzella and Melanie Maruzzella; four great-grandchildren, Maya Reppert, Lily Koloski, Anabelle and Kellan Williams. Her husband, Hector, preceded Julianne in death.
Visitation will be at the Pelham Funeral Home on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A mass will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church in Pelham at 10 a.m. followed by a burial at Holy Mount Cemetery in Eastchester.