Julia Tomes

Dedicated librarian; 'terrific conversationalist who loved people'

Julia Tomes (nee Fedirka), 92, a Staten Island resident for most of her long life, passed away at home on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

Julia was a branch librarian at various branches of the New York Public Library here on Staten Island for over 35 years, retiring in 1992.

Born in Montreal, Canada, she came to Staten Island at the age of four. A longtime parishioner of St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Mrs. Tomes helped set up the library for St. Joseph's School in the mid-1960s.

She was a loyal alumna of New Dorp High School (Class of 1946); Wagner College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1950; and Columbia University, where she was awarded a Masters Degree in Library Science soon after.

She married her husband, Vincent, whom she met during her years at Wagner, at Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church in New Dorp on Nov. 18, 1950.

Mrs. Tomes particularly loved reading stories to children at the library, and to her own children and grandchildren, and she loved helping people select a good book they would enjoy. She was a terrific conversationalist who loved people and was fascinated by their stories and personalities. She also had an exceptionally sharp mind, and was a very practical and loving person who gave great advice and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Her interests included reading, following the stock market, having lively discussions with friends and family on any topic, playing scrabble, and inventing endlessly creative games to play with her grandchildren when they were little. She also loved cats and supported numerous animal societies.

Survivors include her son, Robert R. (Mary) of Tottenville; her daughter, Frances Wraback (Thomas) of Manalapan, NJ; her grandchildren, Claire, Kathleen, Christine and Julie Tomes, and Thomas and Christopher Wraback; her sisters-in-law, Audrey Fedirka and Margaret (David) Ploch; her brothers-in-law, Paul (Athalie) Tomes and Roger Kent, and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Vincent G.; her son, Vincent Jr.; her brother, Dr. Andrew Fedirka; her sisters-in-law, Ellen Muller and Jane Kent; her brother-in-law, Robert Tomes, and her parents, Raymond and Frances Fedirka.

Funeral services include a viewing at Casey Funeral Home today, Thursday, September 24, from 3 to 7 p.m., with a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, 466 Tompkins Ave., at 10 a.m. Friday. Interment will be at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Casey Funeral Home

350 Slosson Ave.

Staten Island, N.Y. 10314

(718) 447-4242

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Published in Staten Island Advance on Sep. 24, 2020.