J.J.'s Legacy

Dear Friends,

I am coming to you with a mix of grief, gratitude, and hope. Julia, my mother, is leaving us. She is a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, performer, and friend. Her journey is an inspiration. For decades, she has been teaching horsemanship, touching hearts, and spinning tales that enchant and charm. I always believed that my mom had magic. I felt sure that this magic would keep her young forever, but in March 2022, that belief was shattered. Mom was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer. Terminal.

Now glioblastoma has been a formidable adversary, but frankly, it never even stood a chance. Mom's spirit is indomitable. Through grueling chemo treatments, she has displayed unwavering grit, grace, and her signature goofiness. At Wilmot, she became "the lady with the red hat." Nurses fought to take care of her. Her delightful smile and wacky sense of humor made her a popular patient. I tried to get her to take the whole cancer thing more seriously. Luckily, these efforts failed. She simply insists on leaving this world with lots of laughter, healing hugs, and outrageous puns.

Now, as my family and I face the inevitable outcome of this battle, our focus turns to ensuring that Mom's legacy will endure. I am raising funds to help my father with final arrangements. I would like to ease the financial stress on my Dad so that he can be worry-free at Mom's side. Mom's horses should get to live out their days as fat pasture ponies. Finally, my family wishes to honor Mom's spirit through lasting and beautiful tributes. From enchanting fairy houses nestled in the woods where she wandered, to nurturing writing workshops held by the pond, we aim to create spaces and experiences that embody Mom's creativity, joy, and her love for nature.

I turn to you, my community, in the hope that you can help me to celebrate my mom's remarkable life and preserve her legacy. Funds will be used to offset the cost of final arrangements, provide for Mom's horses, and begin the work of imbuing the farm with her spirit. No donation is too small, as every act of kindness brings us closer to our goals.

For those unable to contribute financially, I hope you will consider spreading the word about this campaign. I will be sharing updates and stories about Mom, so that everyone can see how magical she truly is.

And as we all know, that kind of magic can never be lost.

Thank you!