Lucia Scioli

Mrs. Lucia Scioli passed away surrounded by the love of her son and daughter on Friday, July 24, 2026. She was the wife of Leonard J. Scioli, a retired Foreign Service Officer, who predeceased her. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria on July 29, 1921, to Nicolina and Cesare Gianfreda, she was just 5 days shy of her 105th birthday when she passed.

The arc of history that she witnessed, lived, and survived is breathtaking. Lucia’s father worked for the Italian Foreign Ministry and was assigned to the Italian Legation in Sofia. She graduated from the Italian School of Sofia in 1941 and had a scholarship to study Italian Literature at the University of Rome, but the events of World War II forced her to abandon her plan. She had wonderful childhood memories of growing up in Sofia before the war years. She enjoyed hiking and camping in the mountains in the springtime and summer and skiing in the winter. One of her fondest memories from childhood occurred in 1930, when she was just 9 years old. She and another little girl from the Italian School were chosen to present a bouquet of flowers welcoming the new young queen of Bulgaria to Sofia, who was the Italian Princess Giovanna from the House of Savoy.

During World War II, Sofia was under German occupation and those years were difficult years for her. After the war, Lucia assumed an administrative position with the Italian Legation. It was during these years that she met her future husband at a diplomatic function. He had been assigned to the American Legation in 1947 and remained in Sofia until the United States broke diplomatic relations with Bulgaria in February 1950. He was evacuated and reassigned to the American Embassy in Rome. One month later, Lucia resigned her position from the Italian Legation and returned to her family in Rome. They were married on April 5, 1950.

Together they traveled the world representing the people and the government of the United States. Diplomatic posts together were Baghdad, Iraq; Kobe, Japan; Pretoria, South Africa; Izmir, then Turkey and now Türkiye; Khartoum, Sudan; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Washington, D.C.; Moscow, then the Soviet Union and now Russia; Naples, Italy; Rome, Italy; and Toronto, Canada. While living abroad, she had a son born in Japan and a daughter born in Türkiye. In July 1977, they retired and led a quiet life in Reading, PA. Mrs. Scioli was a member of DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired).

In July 1978, her husband accepted a Foreign Service Reserve Officer appointment for short assignments at diplomatic posts in Latin America. For the next 15 years he would serve at various US Embassies and she would accompany him when possible to some of them including Bahamas, Barbados, and Mexico City.

Lucia enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking and traveling to see friends and family. She was gracious in every way and will be remembered for her generosity of spirit, her gentleness, and the many kindnesses that she shared. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church in West Reading and volunteered folding the church bulletin and decorating the church with flowers for special occasions. Her husband of 63 years predeceased her. She is survived by her son, Leonard J. Scioli, Jr. of Wyomissing, her daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and Paul Wiedorn of Coopersburg, PA, and her two granddaughters, Alexandria Wiedorn of Manhattan and Victoria Wiedorn (Wesley Britton) of Somerville, MA. In addition, she is survived by one niece and 5 nephews. One nephew sadly predeceased her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 740 Cherry Street, West Reading, PA 19611. Burial to follow at Charles Evans Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Avenue in West Reading, PA 19611. Online condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.