Visiting Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 2-5 & 7-9 PM at Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen Church, 125 Summit Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Mass of Christian Burial Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10 AM at Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen Church, 125 Summit Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. View the Mass live at this link.

Burial to follow at Green Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Julie’s charity of choice, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Brooklyn won’t be as bright without her native daughter Julia Serrano Bumbaca, who entered eternal glory July 26, 2025. She was a devoted and doting wife and daughter, beloved mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother and a friend to the many fortunate to have crossed paths with her over the last 93 years. 

Born Feb. 24, 1932 in Brooklyn to Giovanni and Rosa (née Farzia) Serrano, Julia lived her entire life within a mile of where she was baptized. As a girl, she and a group of girls from the neighborhood rode the subway to Washington Heights in Manhattan to attend Mother Cabrini High School, an all-girl’s high school that educated mostly daughters of immigrants.  An advocate for those who are not as fortunate as others or are the victims of discrimination, Mother Cabrini became a lifelong role model for Julia. 

As she finished her schooling, Julia fell in love with Salvatore “Sam” Bumbaca. The two wed on April 14, 1951 in Carroll Gardens and spent 59 years as pillars of the community together before Sam’s passing 15 years ago. The joy that must have been their reunion in Heaven is a blessing to those who miss them here on Earth. 

Julie and Sam – he called her “Honey Child” – raised their family on 2nd Street with their sons and her parents.  She spent wonderful summers at Breezy Point, with her parents squeezing into a bungalow by the beach.  At Scotto Funeral Home, Julie worked along side Terry and Buddy Scotto and the Heyer family for many years comforting our neighbors in their time of need.  Julie will always hold Terry in her heart, it was truly a life long special friendship.  Julie was a force in the kitchen whose Italian cuisine could go head-to-head with any top chef. Of course, later in life, the fillet of sole from Vinny’s became a staple and one of her favorites. 

To the six luckiest people in Julie’s life, her grandchildren, she was “Nani.” From her, they learned the silky sounds of Sinatra and how to dance the Foxtrot. They also learned that Nani always seemed to have candy and cash lying around, which was the perfect consolation for having to leave Brooklyn after a visit.  Most importantly they learned the love of family, respect for all and the value of hard work.  With Jules gone, we have truly lost an original. She liked things done her way, to her liking and taught us that having the confidence to (respectfully) ask for things we want is a good thing. 

Julie was preceded in death by Sam and John, both of whom are missed every day. She is survived by her son Ralph, who adored her, and her daughters-in-law, Ada (nee Cruz) and Marian (nee Kern). Her grandchildren Dean, Eric and wife Jenny (nee Singer), Christopher, Matthew, William and Lauren will miss her tremendously. The family was blessed to watch Julie meet and hold her precious great-granddaughter, Lucy.  Enriching Julie’s later years, our dear Oya became a trusted confidant and, more importantly, an amazing caregiver.  Ada’s mother Sofia shared a special bond over many years through the love of their children and we fondly referred to them as “the girls”.  Julie was blessed with the entire Cruz family especially all the nieces and nephews who loved her like their own grandmother.  Throughout Julie’s life so many friends and their children filled Julie’s life with joy and love. 

Whether you knew her as “Nani” or “Julie” or “Jules,” she was a 2nd Street legend, in her final years from her front yard bench, neighbors stopped by to ask Julie how she was doing, to which she responded, “Eh, I’m hanging in there.” 

Jules was the master of hanging in there. And that’s what we will do now that she’s gone.