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Due to the current circumstances, a Private Family Funeral Service will be held at St. Luc Church, Curran, Ontario.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved family matriarch. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by son, Larry, daughter-in-law Wendy, grand-daughters Ella and Maya, as well as many friends worldwide. Julie was predeceased by her parents Elise and Jean-Baptiste Groulx (1980’s), her husband Roland (1966) and his brother Leo (2017).
Born in North Plantagenet, Ontario, Julie was raised on a dairy farm in the Ottawa Valley where after graduation from Ottawa University, she began a 48 year teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse across from the farm. She taught elementary, secondary and special education classes, but her favorite assignment was kindergarten at Diamond Vale School in Merritt, BC. She loved all her students and took great interest in every detail of their lives.
Julie had many “crosses” to bear throughout her life of 91 years. In 1953, Roland had a tragic car accident and was permanently paralyzed when Larry was 10 months old. Julie was pregnant with Murray who was born premature and lived only 21 days. Roland passed in 1966 at 38 years of age. In 1967, Julie married Roland’s brother Leo and they moved to Calgary with Larry in tow. In 1968, they all arrived in Kamloops.
Although now living far from extended family and lifetime friends, life for Julie was becoming easier. She and Leo were married 50 years. During that time they travelled extensively in Canada and the USA in their Vanguard motorhome. Two granddaughters were born and living was exciting. Then, Leo developed dementia and could no longer drive the motorhome from Kamloops to their home park in Winfield. Julie cared for him at home for 7 years before he became a resident of Pine Grove Care Centre in Kamloops in 2010. Julie continued to assist in his care by spending full days feeding him lunch and dinner before she went home late every evening. She did this at great risk to herself as she had serious mobility challenges, blindness, osteoporosis and COPD.
She was a beacon of love, compassion and generosity. She cherished her granddaughters Ella and Maya and was a big part of their lives. Julie was a devout catholic and truly practiced her faith in a God-centered life.
Due to the current circumstances, a Private Family Funeral Service will be held at St. Luc Church, Curran, Ontario. Interment Parish Cemetery.
If you wish, donations may be made to the Kamloops Food Bank Society, 171 Wilson St, Kamloops, BC, V2B 2M8.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Lamarre & Son Funeral Home, 453 St. Philippe Street, Alfred, Ont., (613) 679-2802.
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HiLarry
I’m sorry to here of Julie’s passing. Me and my family meet Julie and Leo back in 1993 on a trip my dad and I meet them in a park in the United States and we became good friends. I will miss her so much my sisters and I sent our condolences to your family. We will remember Julie for her sense of humour and will always miss her in our hearts Good bye my good friend Glenn and the Ablewhite family