Peggy Giulini

Peggy Giulini, born on April 30, 1930, in Bondovoso, Indonesia, passed away on May 28, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C, surrounded by her loving family. Peggy lived a full and meaningful life, one that was filled with adventure, success, and love.

In the early 1930s, prior to WWII, Peggy, her father, mother, and sister traveled by boat from Indonesia to California. They continued by train across the US, ending up in North Carolina where she stayed until she finished college at the Womens College in Greensboro, NC in 1951.

Peggy was a woman of many talents and passions. She traveled the world and was a lover of music and orchids, but her biggest passion was the love of dogs. She was involved in agility training, boarding, grooming, and breeding. She frequented dog shows through out the world and was asked to be a judge several times during her life. She bred American Staffordshire Terriers and Rottweilers at first, and ended up breeding miniature and toy poodles in the latter years. She even had her prize poodle, nick-named “rock star” by her son, win 4th in group at the world famous Westminster Dog Show in NYC.

After college, she got her first job as a DJ at a local radio station in Asheville, NC. She had a huge appreciation for music and the entertainment industry. In 1954 she went to visit her father William Jansen who worked as an engineer for Shell International in Caracas. While she was there, Peggy met and married the love of her life, Lorenzo Giulini. They stayed in Caracas and built a beautiful life full of love, laughter, and adventure. They loved to travel and had mutual respect for each other. During their life together they won a national competition involving research, not once, but twice, and won trips to Paris, France. A devoted Catholic, Peggy always put her family first and was a beloved member of her church choir. In 1966 they had a son, Cito Giulini, who chose music and computer work for a living. They would have celebrated their 69th anniversary this year.

In the late 1970’s she was the main dog trainer for the Caracas National Theatre version of Little Orphan Annie and was hired for several television commercials involving dogs. She built a small dog kennel in her back yard and began her part-time career boarding dogs for American families living in Caracas.

In 1983, Peggy and Lorenzo left Venezuela and moved to Charlotte NC where Peggy took over a small kennel named Granbar Kennels. In 1986 they moved to a new location where Peggy built a large kennel facility that holds 150 dogs and turned it into a successful revenue generating business. Many modern dog kennels today use her design as the core of their business. She became head of the American Boarding Kennel Association National Accreditation program, and held that position for several years, helping shape the dog boarding industry as we know it today.

Peggy will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Her legacy will live on through her family, friends, and the lives she touched throughout her life. We will always remember Peggy as a kind and loving woman who lived life to the fullest. Rest in Peace, Peggy.

She is survived by Patsy her sister and her two children Jay and Cathy, Hetty her cousin, Lorenzo her husband, and her only son Cito.