Julie Ann (Duffin) Wajrowski, 54, of rural LaSalle passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral Services for Julie will be 11:00 am Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Pastor Peter Ward officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 Monday, November 3, 2014 at Ottawa Funeral Home. She will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park.
She was born on May 22, 1960, in Iowa Falls, IA. Julie was the third child in a family that would later grow to six children. She moved with her family to Ottawa, IL, when she was 3 y/o because her father took a job teaching Speech and English at the high school there. She attended public schools in Ottawa graduating from Ottawa Township High School in 1978. Like her siblings, Julie participated in several of the speech and drama events at Ottawa High while her father was the coach. She then attended college at Southern Illinois University. There, she chose a career in teaching, too. Julie taught fifth grade at Earlville Elementary School, in Earlville, IL, for nearly 30 years. She loved working with her students, and she made many good friends at her job. Like her mother, Julie was a people person who loved her relationships with people as much as they loved being with her.
In 1996, Julie married James Wajrowski, who teaches at Harding Grade School. They loved being together and were always doing activities together when they weren’t teaching. Camping, hiking, and traveling to see the region’s many natural wonders were very important to them. They also took much joy in building a home together in rural La Salle County, and they loved decorating and finishing it. Jim was Julie’s constant resource and supporter during her recent illness, spending as much time by her side as he could and letting her know in many ways how much he loved her. She knew she was blessed in this.
She is survived by her husband and son, Brandon (Karisa) Duffin of Denver, CO; three brothers and two sisters: John T. Duffin, Menasha, WI; Sally (Dave) Hass, Leawood, KS; William (Cindy) Duffin, New Berlin, WI; James (Gloria) Duffin, Princeton, IL; and Susan (Rich) Navratil, Lino Lakes, MN; and many nephews and nieces.
She is also survived by her father and mother-in-law, Hal and Shirley Wajrowski of Crystal Lake, IL; and three brothers and sister-in-laws, Dave (Nancy) Wajrowski of Waukegan, IL, Pam (John) McMahon of Crystal Lake, IL, and Mark (Roberta) Wajrowski of Crystal Lake, IL.
Julie was preceded in death by her mother Beverly (Barger) Duffin on March 19, 2012, and her father John Henry Duffin on December 7, 2012; and her sister-in-law, Shari Bishop.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Julie is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.
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