Batiste (Bea) Claps Giuliani

Batiste (Bea) Claps Giuliani, 101, a Stamford native, passed away on July 15 at the Guilford House in Guilford CT. Born in Stamford on April 10, 1925. She was predeceased by her husband of seventy years, Alfred (Fred/Lefty) Giuliani. Batiste was the daughter of the late Michael and Margaret (Sabia) Claps. Batiste spent her first 74 years as a Stamford resident before retiring to Milford CT in 1999.

Batiste graduated from Stamford High School, class of 1943. In 1949 she married the love of her life Alfred (Fred/Lefty) Giuliani. They had 70 beautiful married years together during which they raised four children and enjoyed the arrival of nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A devout Catholic, Batiste was devoted to her church and community. She was President of The Rosary Society at St Mary’s Church and Saint Leo’s Church. She participated in Scouting with her girls, serving as a Troop Leader for several years. Batiste was the Treasurer, Secretary, VP and then the President of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Women’s Auxiliary raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. Batiste also ran the Bargain Corner Thrift Shop, which provided gently used items for sale which resulted in significant fund raising used to buy medical equipment for St. Joseph's. Batiste was a founding member and President of Sacred Heart Academy’s Mothers Club raising money for the school. Later in life she was the Treasurer for St Leo’s Seniors Travel Group.

Batiste was a fantastic cook and an expert hostess. She orchestrated so many wonderful parties and family gatherings. Her cream puffs were legendary as was her homemade pasta. Family meals and holidays gave her joy. She excelled in creative crafts, including sewing, painting, and cross stitch and shared her talents with her children and grandchildren.

Batiste was pre-deceased by her siblings Angie Lovallo, Anna Claps, Katherine Sessa, Louis Claps, Donnata Marie (Nettie) Sessa, and Elizabeth Clapes. Batiste is survived by her children: Michele Ciarcia (James), Cathy Bruno (Nicholas), Alfred Giuliani (Connie Lovallo) and Batiste Zgombick (Tom Galvin); nine grandchildren: Melissa Ciarcia, Rebecca Ciarcia-Haase (Timothy Haase) Francesca Bruno, Andrew Bruno (Evans Smalley) Jennifer Giuliani (Greg Colonero), Christopher Giuliani (Amanda Markow), Samantha Zgombick, Jonah Zgombick and Erik Galvin; and seven great-grandchildren: Sophia, Olivia, Nico, Rocco, Luna, Luca, and Amelia. Batiste is also survived by her sister-in -law Barbara Pinelli and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may call at the Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Wednesday July 22nd from 4:00-7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday July 23rd at 10:30 AM at St. Leo Parish, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford. Entombment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 25 Camp Ave., Darien.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Batiste’s memory to The Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery. You may make your donations by going to sistersofsaintjoseph.networkforgood.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Guilford House in Guilford, CT. for their comfort and outstanding care of Batiste.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com