Mary Joan Julius 1935-2025

The most cherished and only daughter of Carmen and Josephine Flower Agnone, she was born April 1, 1935, in Youngstown.

Growing up on the North Side of Youngstown, she attended Hayes Junior High School and The Rayen (High) School, where she met the love of her life, Joe; he graduated in 1951 and she graduated in 1953. She went on to graduate from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in nursing in 1957 and went to work in Columbus as a home care and surgical nurse.

She married Joe on Sept. 13, 1958, and they made their home together in Columbus while he completed undergraduate studies and went on to OSU Dental School. They had their first child, Carmen Joseph (C.J.), there in 1963 and returned to Youngstown in 1964, where they resided on the North Side, this time in Liberty Township, in what would be their first and only home. Their home was soon busy with the addition of their only daughter, Marie Michele (Michele) in 1966, and their baby son, Marcus John (Marc / Marcus) in 1970.

She stayed home to raise her children, but later felt the need to teach and serve outside of her home, and so she joined the faculty of the Youngstown State University Nursing Department in 1973, where she began teaching in the RN / AD nursing program. She remained at YSU through the 1980s and 1990s, where she took on additional roles in the nursing department and in nursing education. She was a part of the department as the BSN (RN) program began in the late 1980s.

She also was a great resource for her children while they (all) were at YSU, when pizza at The Pub or lunch at The Wicker Basket with Mom between classes was a great break during the day, but even more so when her office, classroom, study rooms and nursing library were both a quiet place and a great solace before a big exam. Seeing Mom during the day made such a difference on those days!

She retired from YSU in 2001 to help her husband in his dental practice, from which they both retired in 2009. After giving Joe back to the Lord in 2014, Joan actively volunteered at the Oblate Sisters with the preschool and kindergarten, as well as with their summer camp as a teacher’s aide, a chaperone and as an office staff person. She so very much enjoyed her time and daily breakfast(s) with the sisters, her daily Mass attendance, and her walks and prayers alone at the Stations of the Cross, all at the Warner Road Convent.

She was a member of St. Edward Church for many years and St. Patrick Church (Hubbard) for over 20 years before joining Holy Family Parish in 2020 with her move to Poland.

She enjoyed her family and was so very proud of her children and her grandchildren, and their lives and accomplishments. She enjoyed hosting her family and extended family’s Christmas Day celebration for over 25 years, once even making the local news with the highlights of the day’s festivities! Those celebrations included so many family and friends and made so many memories! She always made everyone feel welcome. The family home was always the place to host her children’s friends (one or many) for dinner, get-togethers, or backyard pickup basketball and football games, as well as for days at Mimi and Popi’s for her grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren and always wanted the best and the most success for the three of them.

She so loved her home and her neighbors, who were close friends and a source of camaraderie during her many years in the Crestwood neighborhood, and who were such a great source of help to her in her last few years there. What a place of great memories!

She moved from her home in 2020 to assisted living at The Inn at Poland Way to have help with her daily routines. She was so very much loved by the staff there and treated so very well. She moved to Wickshire / Poland Village in May 2023 for the extra daily care that she needed as her dementia progressed. She then moved to Masternick Memorial for skilled care in August.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

She leaves behind to remember her (our Mom and Mimi), her son, C. J. (Lyn Yakubov); her daughter, Michele (John) Gianetti; her son, Marcus (Keri); as well as her three grandchildren, Emily (Ben) Diamond, and Elizabeth and Michael Gianetti. She also leaves behind many cousins and family members in whose lives she played a part, or to whom she lent a hand or was a listening ear to and for over the years.

The family thanks the staff at The Inn at Poland Way for loving on Mom for over three years and for always being there for her and for treating her like their Mom. Thank you for loving her so much and for being there whenever she needed and for whatever she needed. So many staff members to thank; all with such help and respect for her. From Laura, Kathy, Sandy, Marlo, David, Tommi A. to many others. Thank you! Her time there included the height of the COVID pandemic. They were her daily routine and hugs / embrace(s) and schedule during a difficult time all around.

The family greatly thanks Wickshire Poland / Poland Village Assisted Living / Memory Care and its most caring staff for truly loving and caring for Mom in every way / every day for two years. Nette and Stacey — simply the best! Leah, Laura, Joyce P. and so many others. Their nurture and constant attention were both greatly needed and so greatly appreciated! What a wonderful staff in many ways on all days! Thank you to CrossRoads Hospice and Sarah D., RN, for their unwavering support for so long.

The family thanks Masternick Memorial Skilled Nursing Unit and all of its staff for coming around Mom and providing for her needs this past late summer and for guiding her home along with Akeso Hospice (Thank you, Cammie D., RN, and Betsy, RN).

The family also expresses its deepest thanks for the everyday help of Mom’s dedicated caregiver and friend, Michelle R., over the last three-and-a-half years. Michelle (Roody), you have such a pure and caring heart! Thank you for giving Mom dignity and so, so many happy times! Thank you for taking care of all the details every day. You gave her both a pace and your kind face every day. She trusted you, went the distance for you (and you for her), and we all love you and thank you greatly!

The family also thanks The Oblate Sisters for providing solace to Mom and for giving her purpose in her widowhood. More so, for always being there to watch over her and welcome her. Thank you also to the Crestwood neighbors for always watching over both Mom and her home, especially in the last few years. We are so glad that she had such good friends!

Private funeral services were held for the family.

Joan was laid in her final resting place alongside her husband, Joe, at Green Haven Memorial Gardens / Cemetery (Austintown).

In lieu of flowers or other intentions, the family kindly requests any gifts, remembrances or donation(s) be directed to The Oblate Sisters (c/o or memo: Joan Julius Scholarship Fund ) at (c/o) The Villa Maria Theresa Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart, 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, OH 44425.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send the family condolences and share your memories.

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