Julie Ann Englehart

I miss Mom.

I miss her infectious laugh--The way she would laugh if she told a story or laugh at someone else’s story. Or bust out a laugh at one of her favorite TV shows. I miss all of our little inside jokes.

She was the most caring, kind, sweet, compassionate, thoughtful, and loving person I knew. To know her, was to love her. Our husbands even affectionately called her “Momma J”. Mom not only loved her family, close friends, and neighbors; she loved animals too.

When Mom found out she was going to be a ‘Grammie,’ she was elated! Mom loved her grandkids--Owen, Nora, and Isla. She also loved visiting her ‘other grandkids’ (in canine form) when she visited us in Arizona---Molly, Dallas, and Dierks! She always loved her fur babies—in real form or even on television, she would say, “Look at that baby…” She often fostered kittens and even ended up adopting some of her fosters. Mom even took in my cats when I moved into my first apartment due to the no pet policy, and she cared for them until they grew old and passed.

Mom’s craft was creativity. Mom quilted, crocheted, knitted, sewed and cross-stitched. She also tried out many new crafts and projects over the years such as jewelry making, clay figures, purses, and even rhinestone embellishments! I always felt like Mom could make anything! If she wasn’t familiar with something, she would dive in, learning fast, with all the ‘doo-dads’ to accompany the new craft. I have many memories in Mom’s sewing rooms over the years. From homemade Halloween costumes to Raggedy Ann dolls, to quilts, quilt balls, felt projects, baby blankets, baby clothes---you name it—Mom was always working on something, and it wasn’t uncommon for her to have several projects going at once!

Mom, Jen, and I often attended craft shows. When we went together, we were going to spend the day. Some of the craft shows we would attend would be Yankee Peddler, Christmas in the Woods, and Shaker in the Woods. Mom loved to stroll and look at all the vendor’s crafts, but she would also get some of her ideas at these events! Mom also attended craft shows as a vendor herself, selling her own creations as well. She also donated and gifted many of her creations.

One of the memories I have that I enjoyed as a child is when Mom would take Jen and I with neighbors or friends out to Fell Lake for the day to swim and play. It always felt like an adventure, and we looked forward to it every summer.

When we were in high school, Mom volunteered for the very fitting “Uniform Mom” title with the Hudson High School Swing Marching Band. Every marching band season, she would oversee the uniform assignment process with other volunteer Moms working beside her, fitting 300 band members for uniforms. Mom would attend every event with her bag of goodies, fixing a hem on a pant, tending to a ripped seam, delving out gloves, and the like!

I was looking for a recipe the other day and found that I have quite a few of Mom’s recipes that she used to whip up often, written in her very own handwriting. And can you guess what most of the recipes are?? Yes!! Sweets! Mom loved her sweets! And as Jen mentioned, Mom would often say, “You know what would go good with this? Vanilla ice cream!”

I will miss her voice, her reassurance and her advice. I will miss picking up the phone to call her on my drive to or from work or just because to hear her say, “Hi Chickie!”.

May I also say my deepest gratitude and appreciation for my sister Jen and her family for being present for our Mom. Especially, over the last 3 years, when they cared for her. This is never an easy task, but they did it with honor, respect and love. So, thank you.

Thank you to all who have shared and continue to share memories of our Mom on the wall. We enjoy reading other’s memories of her and encourage you to share.

I miss my mom. A lot. It’s taken me some time to find words to help paint the memory of the mom I knew. Gentle, passionate, compassionate, strong, optimistic, creative, and loving. I hate that she got dealt a real shit card with her health, but she took it on with optimism, courage, and strength. Until the very end. It was truly an honor to have her living with us and to care for her, these last 6 months especially, and know that she was receiving the best possible care.

My mom’s love language was making. Anything. Making quilts, crocheting or knitting blankets and hats to be donated to various organizations. Sewing a bag or a little, what she, Katie, and I called a little “pockey purse”. Raggedy Anne dolls with the loopy red hair yarn hair, and it was my job to cut all the loops. Stockings and mittens (so many mittens)!

She didn’t like online shopping because she couldn’t feel it. She had to be able to touch and feel it. She loved colors and patterns and was very talented with arranging them to create beautiful things.

She loved a new project and committed fully to each new craft. There was no dipping of toes in. It was a full plunge with all the accessories to boot.

At home we knew the difference between paper scissors and sewing scissors and we frequently heard “Those better not be my sewing scissors !” from across the house if she heard the slightest snip.

During mine and Katie’s high school years she had the prestigious title of “uniform mom” for the Hudson High School Swing Marching Band. She helped fit 300 high schoolers, each sweaty stinky band season, into polyester uniforms. She was there before pregame inspections to help sew back on missing buttons , dole out new gloves , and fix a hem on a pant.

She was also an animal lover. She was kind and compassionate and became a foster to many litters of kittens and cats. Many cats and dogs even found permanent residence with her. She wrangled her fair share of domestic and feral alike and had the scars on her arms to prove it.

She loved her sweets. She liked to say about something especially rich and sweet, “You know what would go good with this? A scoop of vanilla ice cream!”

She was Grammie to 3 grandchildren , and she loved to spend time with them. The kids liked her room best for coloring because she had a nice big sewing table. Nora would frequently sneak in there and help herself to fabric pieces she had cut and stacked so she could use them in her doll and Barbie houses. My mom watched The Grinch countless times with Isla snuggled up in bed with her. She patiently listened to Owen as he showed her new Geometry Dash levels he designed or other video games he was playing.

I miss my mom. A lot. Reading these notes and memories on the wall has been a gift. Thank you to everyone that has checked in and reached out in some way.

Julie was a special person in my life growing up. We are cousins through our Mom's Freda (Aunt Fritzi) & Bernie.
She was my Geauga Lake partner for many years as I always asked her to go to my Dad's company picnic with me. So MUCH fun!
We played house in the wonderful, huge play room they had in the basement of their house on 18... & out back in the apple orchard & beyond!
The family lived with ours when they sold one house & bought another & needed a place to stay in between. So MANY happy memories there, playing, playing, playing. I think I was in 4th grade & she was in 5th. We even got into trouble when it was discovered we were 'snooping' for Christmas presents! Whose idea was that?! Hmm
As it happens so many times, -- we grew up, grew apart. But the times we did happen to meet up in the future, the bond was still there!
I have often in the past, described Julie a quiet, gentle soul. She also had a little bit of orneriness in her, which I believe she got from her dad!
I am so grateful I got to see her that last time before I moved to Florida. To Susie (Robin) Brenda & her daughters, please know how much I loved & cherish our friendship in those early years so much.
You are all in my thoughts & prayers at this time & beyond.

Quilt given to my son 38 years ago. Regifted to his daughter!

Baby quilt and blanket, made by Julie.

So many happy memories with Aunt Julie! I was lucky enough to get to join Mom and Aunt Julie on quilt shop hops and quilting retreats, doing some show and tells on finished projects and works in progress. See her creativity in action. She was always happy to take a baby off your hands with a “give me that baby”. And her quick witted humor was just like Grandpa’s. We love you. - “Laura Jean”

How do you say goodbye to someone who has been in your life for as long as you can remember? With great heartache to start with but then the memories come flooding in. Playing dolls together in the house on Meloy Rd, playing in the snow, sled riding down the hill, bike riding up and down the road. There were trips to PA, Detroit and many other places to visit family. We shared a love of sewing, quilting, crocheting and baking. She would call me and say "the voices in my head are talking to me" and I knew she was looking at a new quilt pattern or quilt shop adventure. She was my biggest cheerleader when I got my cancer diagnosis. She understood the journey.
She leaves a legacy in her beautiful family, lovely young ladies, their loving husbands, her dear grandchildren and all the lives she touched.
You are loved and missed greatly!!

Dear God. Thank you for letting our lives be brought together with Julie's. For giving her such a sincere heart that was felt by all her family and friends. May they feel sronger your love for them as she sees you face to face. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Some of my best memories are from the family reunions. Playing in the backfield was so much fun. It was an adventure. And talking with Robin and Julie about Sewing. Julie’s skill just was phenomenal. She was a gentle woman and soft spoken. Everyone in the family just loved her. She touched everybody’s life in such a special way. 🤟♥️

Julie was a wonderful person. I dearly Love her. I considered her family. Her smile was incredible. . She was like a sister to my sister Grace. They were amazing friends forever over 55 years. My deepest condolences to all her family and my sister Grace and Brenda.

To my beautiful sister. You touched many lives with your heart. You truly were a wonderful sister. I love you and will miss you but your memory will live on.
I have memories of Christmas time and cookies you made. Picking up apples for cider. Playing in the yard and more.
Time doesn't stand still but memories will always last.
Fly high and I love you
Love,
Me

Aunt Julie was an amazing person. She had a contagious laugh and a sense of humor that was insightful and entertaining but also kind. I particularly loved when she would tell a story and her laughter would sort of running away with the ending. She was a gentle person who loved fiercely and I am so thankful that I had the privilege of being one of her “chickies”.