Julia was born on June 4, 1935 to Jose E. Castellanos and Angelina Ramirez de Castellanos in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Julia was known to most as Abuela or Doña Julia. After losing her mother at an early age, she helped raise her 7 siblings. In 1985, she immigrated to the United States to be with her only son, Francisco A. Lopez, and to help raise her grandchildren. She became a US citizen and worked in a factory for the next 15 years until she retired. Her son helped her rebuild her house in Guatemala where she would travel to on a regular basis during her last 20 years. In her retirement, she enjoyed cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
She will always be remembered as the strong matriarch of the family—for her generosity, sense of humor, and vivacious personality.
She is survived by her son, Francisco A. Lopez (and her daughter-in-law, Ivonne Sotomayor); grandchildren, Julia A. Lopez, Sandra Lopez-Ribon (and her husband Eddie Ribon), Francisco A. Lopez, Jr., Michael Lopez, and Carmen Sotomayor; and great-grandson, Christian Ribon. Julia is also survived by her brother, Carlos Castellanos; many nephews and nieces in Guatemala; and a large extended family in New Jersey and Florida including the Cabrera, Sevillano, Soto, Lopez, Mazer/Rodriguez families. She is now reunited with her parents, 6 siblings, and her grandson, Francisco E. Lopez, Jr.
A visitation for Doña Julia will be held on Friday, October 12, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083. A mass will occur Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Holy Spirit Church, 971 Suburban Rd, Union, NJ 07083. She will be laid to rest on Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Rosedale Cemetery, 350 E Linden Ave, Linden, NJ 07036.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com for her family.
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