“Little girl I say to you, Arise.” – Mark 5:41

Julie Marie Williams, age 50, was called home by the Lord Jesus on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at home, surrounded by family and dearest loved ones, after a courageous fight with cancer over the past twelve years. May her soul rest in the peace of Jesus and His Holy Mother Mary, whom she loved and served, and may she rejoice in Glory forever.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” – Jeremiah 1:5

Julie was born on August 14, 1976 in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Braintree. She was the beloved daughter of Paul and Ann Marie (Rosano) Williams, and devoted sister of Rev. Matthew M. Williams, pastor of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Joseph Parishes, Quincy. Julie was the beloved fiancé of her high school sweetheart, Frank Ruscio.

Julie was the loving granddaughter of the late John P. and Mary A. Williams, Rita and Alfred Rosano, and the loving niece of Margaret Kelley and her husband Paul, Patricia Costello, Eileen and Anthony Angeli, Ann Marie Garibaldi and her husband Frank, Debbie Williams-Gwynn and her husband Norman, and Joann Williams.

Julie is predeceased by beloved aunts and uncles: John Williams, Catherine and Joseph Connolly, Mary Ann and Leo Scanlon, Richard Williams, Joseph Williams, Bob Costello and her godparents: Armando Berlini and Roberta Kane.

Julie is also survived by many much-loved cousins, extended family members, and dear friends who knew her beautiful heart.

Julie was a graduate of Sacred Heart School in Weymouth and Archbishop Williams High School, Class of 1994. She previously attended the former Sacred Heart/Weymouth Catholic High School.

Julie’s vocation as a Registered Nurse began with her studies at Labouré Nursing School and then Curry College where she received her BSN. Julie’s vocation as a Registered Nurse spanned over twenty years, most especially was her dedicated and compassionate care of the patients at Boston Children’s Hospital for the last fifteen years.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” – Philippians 4:4

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” – John 10:10

Julie’s life was marked by JOY! Wherever she went, to her family, her friends, her patients, her neighbors, or even someone she had just met, they were blessed and touched by her JOY. Julie had a warm, compassionate, caring, fun, and engaging personality, and people felt seen, welcomed and loved. She beautifully integrated the gift of her Catholic faith into her daily life by loving Jesus and then sharing that love with others.

Julie was a good, faithful and devoted daughter and sister. Her care for her mom over the past fifteen years, even in the midst of her health challenges, was beautiful and heroic. She never failed to take her mom on monthly salon visits, with her beloved hairdresser, Odene, as well as monthly manicures and pedicures. This was in addition to the countless hours spent with her mom and dad and brother, around the kitchen table, at Julie’s beautiful home, or on special family trips, pilgrimages and nights out for dinner. Julie had a very special bond with her dad and brother: with dad she was a beloved daughter and treasured time with him and constantly sought his wisdom and guidance, and with Matt, she treasured time spent with him, especially enjoying God’s greatest gifts and many traveling adventures.

After many years, Julie reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Frank; Julie’s first and only love. Frank was the apple of Julie’s eye, and the way by which he cared for her was beautiful and exemplary. Julie played an instrumental role in helping Frank rediscover his Catholic Faith. Every weekend they would attend one of Fr. Matt’s Masses, as well as a weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays at 1 a.m. in the new Holy Family Chapel at Saint John the Baptist. Julie and Frank are both great cooks, and loved to cook for others. During the Holy Days and Holidays, Frank would help Julie or take the lead, in helping prepare a major feast for Julie’s family and usually a couple of extra beloved priests. They were engaged on July 16, and it was one of Julie’s happiest days. That engagement provided a special and providential opportunity to gather family and friends less than one month before she passed.

Julie was blessed to be born into the Williams clan, the size of which was only outdone by its love, generosity, and JOY! Julie was such a beloved niece and cousin, and treasured many memories from the times spent with them during 4th of July parties, Labor Day Cookouts, First Communions and Confirmations, Weddings and Funerals, sleepovers, dancing school, birthdays and the annual family camping trips. The Williams Family, gifted with wonderful grandparents and grand aunts and uncles, bore witness to putting Jesus first and then loving your family and others second, and then yourself third, gave the next generations the recipe for the JOY that shaped and inspired Julie.

Julie was blessed with many dear friendships over the years through school, work, parish life, and neighbors. Julie loved God. Julie loved people. Julie loved her country. Julie loved life. Her love for God, people and life were marvelously on display as she could share deeply about her faith, offer tremendous compassion and love, and then enjoy a glass of wine or the finer things that life has to offer. Julie was very funny, a great story teller and a great impersonator. She was very approachable, much sought after, and made the kindness of Jesus tangible. There’s nothing Julie enjoyed more than having meaningful conversations over a nice dinner and a bottle of wine or a martini with her friends.

“’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” – Matthew 25:40

Julie’s vocation as a nurse had humble beginnings. Not unlike some of the great saints (i.e. Saint John Vianney) Julie struggled with her academics and board exam. However, by the grace of God and a lot of prayers and hard work, she did it! And once she became an RN she was ready to be unleashed into the nursing world. Julie was an excellent nurse, providing compassionate, competent, and faith-filled care. Julie was often made the “Charge” nurse overseeing a particular floor or unit. Julie formed a number of beautiful relationships with her nursing friends at Children’s and enjoyed get-togethers and time away with them. In the last years of her time at Children’s she was made a COPP, the Coordinator of Patient Placement. This was a highly stressful job, requiring skill, knowledge and a special temperament to handle the pressures. Julie did it with excellence.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” – 2 Timothy 4:7

Julie’s battle with breast cancer was heroic and grace-filled. After beating stage three breast cancer twelve years ago, the cancer came back within a year, this time as stage four terminal breast cancer. Thanks to many, many prayer warriors, her beloved oncologist, Dr. Rosenberg, and the Oncology Medical Team at Atrius Health, she was able to fight this cancer for ten years. She gave it everything she had, and with the support of family and friends, was able to persevere with JOY to the end.

Julie was a very beautiful woman, inside and outside, and the way by which she embraced the cross of this cancer, with faith and faithful family and friends, she actually became even more beautiful: more loving, more compassionate, and an ever truer image of herself. As Julie carried this Cross, she united it to Jesus’ Cross, and offered it up for others, especially the souls in purgatory. Although Julie’s battle is over, and the crown awaits her (2 Tim 4:8), she left all of us with a model of how to carry our crosses with grace, faith, dear family and friends, and most especially the Eucharist and Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“And God saw how good it was” – Genesis 1:25

Let us not forget Julie’s great love for animals, especially the beloved pets of her life: Raphael, Rudy, Jessie, Rocco, Willie and Max. It is often said that the dog is “man’s best friend,” these beloved creatures were all of that and more, they were family. Raphael had special pride of place and was the “son” Julie always wanted. This little guy brought Julie so much joy, and he tolerated all the ways Julie dressed him up (Halloween, Christmas, etc.), groomed him, and brushed his teeth. He was the cleanest and potentially most spoiled dog around. He will miss his mommy.

“For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 8:38-39

Thanks to her parents, beloved priests like Fr. George Gardiner and Fr. Tom DiLorenzo, and Our Lady of Medugorje, Julie encountered the goodness of God; the merciful Heart of Jesus and his unfathomable Divine Mercy. Although the boat of her life was often shaken by the tumultuous waves of cancer and not fulfilling her life-long dream of being a wife and mother, she never lost faith, she never lost hope and she knew God had a plan. Julie was convicted by the truth of her Catholic faith, and clung to Jesus, Mary and the Sacraments to anchor her through the storms. Other trusted friends and family members became anchors for her as she processed her pain, her questions and her grief.

Julie’s authentic life of discipleship is so inspiring. She didn’t hide her struggles or questions, but they didn’t define her either. She was defined by love – by His love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This truth and this love is what kept her going, as well as the love in the hearts of those who walked with her.

May her authentic life of discipleship attract all of us to Jesus, whom she loved and served and trusted.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy, on Tuesday, September 8, from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Concelebrated Funeral Mass will take place at Saint John the Baptist Church, 44 School Street, Quincy, on Wednesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Reverend Matthew M. Williams, Julie’s brother, will be the Principal Celebrant.

The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/live/PJV9f-5wzTg?si=pK2qp8JH9JPUe1wT

The Rite of Committal will immediately follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes, 1 Wellesley Avenue, Needham.

For those who wish, donations in memory of Julie may be made to Holy Family Chapel, c/o Saint John the Baptist Parish, 556 Washington Street, Quincy, MA 02169.