Appolloni was born in Cavan, Ireland as Ursula Carroll,[1] and she served in Britain's Women's Royal Air Force from 1948 to 1950.

In 1954 she met her future husband, Lucio, who at the time was working at the Italian consulate in Liverpool, England.

[1] Prior to entering politics, she was a freelance writer with numerous articles published in the Toronto Telegram, Toronto Star and Catholic Register and she worked as chairman of the Board of Referees, Employment and Immigration Canada.

[2] Appolloni was first involved in politics when she served as office manager for the campaign of Charles Caccia in the 1968 election.

Issues that she supported during her tenure included the creation of pensions for housewives and putting unemployed youth in the military reserve.