Julie Vukovich

An Earth Angel returns to heaven. Julie "Julia" A. Vukovich transitioned from her physical body on May 22, 2023 in the company of loving family and caregivers.

Born in West New York, NJ on October 21, 1947 Julie was a Varsity Majorette and Cheerleader at Memorial High School. She was elected by the student body as "Football Queen" in her senior year, which at the time equated to "most popular." As if from a classic movie, this "Football Queen" later dated the captain of the football team at the same school, Stephen Vukovich. The two were married in Central Park in June of 1969.

A union that inaugurated a 54 year marriage with a love and commitment that transcends a single lifetime. Julie went on to earn her bachelor's degree from William Patterson University. After graduating, through time spent in Vermont and Hamilton, MA with the 1976 US Olympic Equestrian Team, Julie's love and connection with nature, flowers, and animals truly blossomed. Settling at a mini farm home in Chesterfield, MA in 1978 where she became mother to Ian in 1982 and Claire in 1989.

Julie was a lover and caregiver of her family, numerous cats and dogs, a rescued pony, and vast gardens of beebalms and lilacs. In Chesterfield she was a member of the town Conservation Commission and the School Board, as well as a founding member of the Westfield River Watershed Committee, a group that later expanded protection by 78 miles along the Westfield River.

While obtaining a Doctorate in Psychology from American International College, Julie moved from Chesterfield to Northampton with her family in 1993 where she lived the remainder of her life in a home surrounded by beautiful gardens. Deeply committed to education throughout her life, Julie served as a School Psychologist in both the Wilbraham and East Longmeadow school districts where she helped countless children, families, and educators navigate the complexities of youth learning and growth. A pursuit she was deeply passionate about.

In addition to her acts of service, Julie shared her love through her vast generosity and affinity for cooking 5 star meals. She was a fantastic chef, expressing herself through creative dishes crafted with the best ingredients and local produce. She spent much focus planning intricate and exotic meals and loved to explore other cultures through food, often cooking Indian curries and Asian stir fry's. Every Christmas, her stove top would be full with 4 to 5 huge pots of homemade tomato sauce, filled with homemade meatballs, sausages, and braciole. A homage to her Italian matriarch, which she also embodied.

She was a dancer in her younger years, and later in life an artist. She created countless heartfelt pieces through quilting and knitting. All activities she continued as long as her body would allow.

Julie was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1980, a progressive disease that would define the latter half of her life and showcase the true magic of her human form. Her embodied journey was a perpetual dance with physical pain, but the way Julie gracefully navigated these circumstances was a showcase of human resiliency in its best form. She embodied grace, remaining kind, humorous, playful, nurturing, generous, and caregiving despite her physical ailments. Her strength and determination to endure countless fused joints and broken bones, even overcoming many fractured vertebrae, continuing to walk for many years afterward when treatment was not an option.

Through all of her later life mobility challenges, Julie loved to travel, visiting Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Monaco, and Scotland in her retirement. All dream destinations for her. She returned to some of them multiple times.

Julie Vukovich: A life well lived, a life well loved. Julie will be deeply missed by those who loved and knew her. She is survived by her husband Stephen and her two children; Ian and Claire.


FOTO: Private