After years of declining health Julia passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29, 2025, surrounded by her family at the Lakeridge Health Centre in Oshawa.

Beloved wife of Leo (deceased) for 63 years and loving mother to Rob, Lynn (Mark Derrick) and Rachel (Steve Neale). Nana to Davis and Everett Neale.
Julia is survived by her sisters Ernestine (late Donald Gaudet) and Majella (Gilles Caissie), brothers Georges (Odile) Doucette, Normand (Giselle) Doucette and Bernard (Jeannita) Doucette, sisters-in-law Noella Doucette (late Abel) and Jeannine Doucette (late John) and brother-in-law Guillaume Despres (late Cecile). Predeceased by her parents Etienne and Emilie (nee Bernard) Doucette of Colette, NB and siblings Patricia (Emile Goguen), Stella (Medric Thibodeau), and Melanie (Zoel Maillet). Julia will be missed dearly by scores of nieces and nephews.
Julia is also survived by her brother-in-law Jerry Richard (late Jean) and sisters-in-law Rosalie (late Alvin Aube), Frances Richard (late Emile) and Bernadette Richard (late Fidele). She was predeceased by her brothers-in-law Patrick (Zelia) Richard, Placide (Rita) Richard, Marcel (Bella) Richard, Nora (Yvon Leger), Melanie (Leo LeBlanc), Aurore (Yvon Richard) and Alice (Emery Boucher).

Growing up in rural NB, Julia left the family farm at 12 years old to move in with her older sister Stella in Rogersville to help with her growing family. Always the top student in school, Julia was the first of her family to pursue post-secondary education.  She went to college in Moncton and studied to be a legal secretary, again finishing at the top of her class. She quickly landed a job in Moncton working for a lawyer.

Julia met the love of her life, Leo, when she was only 14 and they dated for a while but broke up as they realized they were too young to get serious. They reconnected a few years later and Julia moved to Toronto in late 1960 to join him. Armed with a glowing recommendation she quickly landed a job with a law firm in Toronto.

Julia and Leo were married September 2, 1961, and started a family by the end of 1962. In 1963 they moved to Oshawa where they bought their first house and continued to grow their family. She was now a full-time stay at home mom and with 3 small children in under 4 years, it was a full-time career raising them.

The family of Julia Richard will receive friends at WAGG FUNERAL HOME, 216 Queen Street in Port Perry (905-985-2171) on Saturday, August 23rd from 10 -11 a.m. A Celebration of her life will be held in the Chapel at 11 AM. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.waggfuneralhome.com

Visitation