Julia R. Van Tassell, 90, formerly of Glenham and Beacon, NY, passed away June 9, 2020, in Ormond Beach, FL. She was born in New York City on Feb. 20, 1930, to Julia and Harry Ramsey who, along with her three sisters, Margaret, Dorothy, and Charlotte (deceased) moved to Maple Street in Glenham. Julia attended St. Joachim School and Beacon High School. She worked various jobs along Main Street in Beacon.
Julia (also called “Julie” and “Bobbie”), married the late William “Bill” Van Tassell of Beacon on March 25, 1951 and adopted two children - son Patrick, 63, of Ormond Beach, FL, and daughter Colleen, 59, of Cheshire, CT. The Van Tassells lived in Beacon on West Center Street, then Deerfield Place. Bill worked for IBM in Poughkeepsie for many years. They attended St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church before moving to Connecticut in 1981.
Julia loved to sew, garden, and entertain. She traveled the world with her husband Bill, who was active in the Knights of Columbus. She met two U.S. presidents, Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and several international dignitaries.
When not traveling, Julia loved to bake (her poppyseed bread was always a hit) and have friends over for backyard parties. She sewed almost all of Colleen’s outfits and her Singer sewing machine could be heard whirring well into most nights. She also loved to swim, ice skate, and play softball. Julia was instrumental in helping Colleen live confidently with cerebral palsy.
Julia and Bill moved from Connecticut to Florida in the late 1990s.
A breast cancer survivor, Julia took care of Bill who died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2007 before succumbing to the disease herself. Patrick moved from Connecticut to Florida in 2017 to care for her full time.
Julia leaves behind her children Patrick and Colleen, her sisters Dorothy “Dot” Colonna (and her husband, Vince) and Margaret “Marge” Dolson, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Volusia Memorial Funeral Home https://www.dignitymemorial.com of Ormond Beach is handling arrangements. No formal funeral services are planned, however if you wish, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
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