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NEW MIDDLETOWN - Loretta J. Julian, 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Masternick Memorial in New Middletown.
Loretta was born March 5, 1944, in Youngstown, a daughter of John and Anna Durica Jurkovich.
Loretta married the love of her life, Carmen Julian, on Oct. 2, 1961, and they shared almost 50 years of marriage until his passing on May 5, 2011.
Loretta became a licensed cosmetologist and was a talented hair stylist with a compassionate heart. Always up to date on the latest hair styles, she went to hair shows in NYC and loved it. She had many long-time loyal customers. Throughout the years she ended up doing hair for generations of family members. When a customer passed on, she would offer to go to the funeral home to do their hair so they would look the same in life as a gift to the family. She would take this time to connect with her client one more time.
Loretta was a great cook and baker and learned Slovak cooking from her parents and Italian cooking from her husband Carmen's family. She could throw ingredients together, and it would turn out fantastic. She was very artistic; from a young age she would draw and color with her much-loved Crayola crayons and took lessons from an artist when she was a young teenager and later in life took courses in watercolor. She loved sharing her artwork with friends and family.
Along with her artistic talent, she had an eye for decorating and loved to refurbish pieces of furniture and make wreaths. She created many things in the craft club she was a member of and was always rearranging things. She volunteered to create decorations for Millcreek Park's Christmas display. She also helped friends and customers decorate their homes for Christmas.
Loretta loved nature, flowers, birds, and especially trees. She loved taking walks in Mill Creek Park, especially around the Old Mill. Fall was her favorite season. She loved walking through the leaves and hearing the crunching sound. In her younger years when leaf burning was permitted, she loved the smell of burning leaves, especially on a crisp autumn night.
She loved Halloween, and for quite a few years she dressed up as a witch and scared more than a few kids that came to her door for their treat.
Loretta took exercise classes, yoga and water classes throughout her life and always enjoyed getting a massage.
She was a Girl Scout leader and had a lot of fun with the girls and fellow leaders. Loretta was very interested in and proud of her Slovak heritage. She was so thankful to be able to take a trip back to her roots by visiting the Slovak Republic. While traveling on the train entering Slovakia, she said that she felt a oneness, a deep connection, a feeling of coming home. She also connected to her family members there.
Loretta also loved music and dancing.
Loretta was of the Catholic faith and was a lifelong supportive member of St. Christine's Church and school. In later life she was part of the soup and bread group, which provided nourishment to those in need of it. Her faith was deep and strong and helped her navigate through life's challenges and losses. She would constantly pray for those in need, both those close to her and mankind in general. She especially had a bond with St. Francis Assisi, Mother Mary and The Sacred Heart of Jesus. She had a collection of prayer cards that she would read and pray over most every day. Loretta was part of a Bible study group with some special friends that continued for many years.
Loretta enjoyed making sure she looked her best. Her makeup, hair, and clothes needed to be fashionable. Her sense of humor was great; she had a lot of spunk, and you were never quite sure what exactly was going to come out of her mouth, sometimes even surprising her.
Loretta just plain loved, and those who came in contact with her for even a brief time loved her.
Loretta will be deeply missed and always remembered by her daughter, Melissa (John Pakalnis) Julian-Marrie and their family, Isabella (Chance Ayres) Marrie, Nicole Pakalnis and Jayme (Brandenn) Keylor; sister, Margie (Greg) Galic.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carmen; her son, Mark Julian (Jeffrey Kelso); brothers, John, Joseph, Frank, Richard and Edward Yurkovich; and an infant sister, Theresa Jurkovich.
The Julian family has entrusted Loretta's care to the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell.
A Mass of Christina Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at St. Mary Magdalene Parish at St. Christine Roman Catholic Church in Youngstown. Everyone is asked to meet directly at church at 10:45 a.m. for Loretta's Mass.
Loretta will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Cemetery in Lowellville.
Many friends, family and professional people were involved with supporting Loretta through her long and difficult journey with dementia. Each person and kind and caring act are priceless and so much appreciated. There are two people, Ann and Megan Corbett, that we would like to acknowledge who went above and beyond with their continual acts of support, kindness, empathy and commitment week in and week out these last few years. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and to leave condolences with Loretta's family.
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