Sister Julia (Loretta Julia) Walsh, age 99, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on April 29, 2016. She was born on February 27, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland, one of eight children born to John and Delia (Joyce) Walsh.
Sister Julia joined the Daughters of Charity on December 2, 1938 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After a period of formation, she began her ministry as a teacher at the Home for Catholic Children in Boston, Massachusetts (1940-1943) and continued as a teacher at St. Joseph School in Petersburg, Virginia (1943-1944). After studying at St. Joseph College and Catholic University of America, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Catholic University in 1947. Following this time of study, Sister Julia went to St. Mary Hospital in Troy, New York as a Nurse and Clinical Nurse Supervisor (1948-1955). In 1956 she earned her Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Catholic University. Her next several missions were in different nursing roles at various hospitals. She served at St. Mary Hospital, Troy, New York as a Nursing Instructor (1956-1960); St. John Hospital, Lowell, Massachusetts as the Assistant Director of Nursing (1960-1961); St. Margaret Hospital, Dorchester, Massachusetts as the Director of Nursing (1961-1968); St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida as the Director of Nursing (1968); Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland as the Director of Nursing (1968-1970); Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore as a nurse supervisor of stroke rehabilitation (1970-1972); Immaculate Conception in Baltimore as an instructor of Red Cross courses (1972-1974); Jenkins Memorial Home in Baltimore as Director of Nursing (1974-1976); Soldiers’ Home Hospital in Washington, DC as a Clinical Teaching Supervisor (1976-1980); and Providence Hospital in Washington, DC as a nurse (1980-1983). She also served as a nurse at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland (1983-1986), as a Patient Visitor at DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk, Virginia (1986-1993), and in the Pastoral Care Department at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC (1993-1999). In 1999, Sister Julia was missioned to St. Michael’s Villa in Emmitsburg where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Julia was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings. Her sister, Sister Margaret Ann Walsh (d. 2008) and her niece, Sister Bernadette Forney (d. 2013) were also Daughters of Charity. Sister Julia is survived by nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 9:30 am in the foyer of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Julia’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.
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Sister Julia joined the Daughters of Charity on December 2, 1938 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After a period of formation, she began her ministry as a teacher at the Home for Catholic Children in Boston, Massachusetts (1940-1943) and continued as a teacher at St. Joseph School in Petersburg, Virginia (1943-1944). After studying at St. Joseph College and Catholic University of America, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Catholic University in 1947. Following this time of study, Sister Julia went to St. Mary Hospital in Troy, New York as a Nurse and Clinical Nurse Supervisor (1948-1955). In 1956 she earned her Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Catholic University. Her next several missions were in different nursing roles at various hospitals. She served at St. Mary Hospital, Troy, New York as a Nursing Instructor (1956-1960); St. John Hospital, Lowell, Massachusetts as the Assistant Director of Nursing (1960-1961); St. Margaret Hospital, Dorchester, Massachusetts as the Director of Nursing (1961-1968); St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida as the Director of Nursing (1968); Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland as the Director of Nursing (1968-1970); Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore as a nurse supervisor of stroke rehabilitation (1970-1972); Immaculate Conception in Baltimore as an instructor of Red Cross courses (1972-1974); Jenkins Memorial Home in Baltimore as Director of Nursing (1974-1976); Soldiers’ Home Hospital in Washington, DC as a Clinical Teaching Supervisor (1976-1980); and Providence Hospital in Washington, DC as a nurse (1980-1983). She also served as a nurse at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland (1983-1986), as a Patient Visitor at DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk, Virginia (1986-1993), and in the Pastoral Care Department at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC (1993-1999). In 1999, Sister Julia was missioned to St. Michael’s Villa in Emmitsburg where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Julia was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings. Her sister, Sister Margaret Ann Walsh (d. 2008) and her niece, Sister Bernadette Forney (d. 2013) were also Daughters of Charity. Sister Julia is survived by nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 9:30 am in the foyer of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Julia’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.