The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
Julie Moreno Franco, a Salesperson Known for Her Smile, Dies of Cancer
Franco started in the jewelry industry in 1982 at OroAmerica and also spent 14 years at Charles Garnier.
Two of Franco’s longtime colleagues, former OroAmerica Inc. owner Guy Benhamou and Andy Concool, shared news of her passing.
Franco started in the jewelry industry at OroAmerica in 1982 at the age of 17, according to a post on LinkedIn from Benhamou.
Aurafin bought OroAmerica Inc. in 2001, but Franco later reunited with Benhamou at Charles Garnier.
She joined the company in January 2007, becoming vice president of sales.
News of her passing was first shared on LinkedIn and on The Centurion website.
Members of the jewelry industry remembered Franco for her warm personality and big smile, and for always bringing her “A game” and lighting up any room she entered.
“Julie was a great person,” a colleague wrote on LinkedIn. “She was always a ray of light. She touched the lives of so many. She will be missed by so many friends, family, and colleagues. God speed Julie.”
Franco was preceded in death by her daughter, Breonda. She is survived by two sons, Stephen and Domenic.
Franco’s family asks that people celebrate her life with hugs and love for their families, as she always had.
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