Julia Santos Russell Janik

Julia Janik, 86, passed away Sunday, August 3, 2025 at her home with her family by her side.

A memorial mass will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.

The family will receive friends on Friday, August 8, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 pm at George Brothers Funeral Service.

Julia was born in Queens, NY to Marina Sosa and Julius Santos. She spent the early years of her life in the Bronx, NY and there brought four children into the world: Frances, Darlene, Laura, and Alexandra Russell. It was also there she met and fell in love for the second time with her husband Joseph Janik who devoted himself to her for over 50 years, till her death. Joseph and Julia resided in Greensboro, NC at the time of her death. They also lived in Denver, Co and West Palm Beach, Fl. Julia studied and graduated from Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts from Jersey City State College, Jersey City, NJ. She was an accomplished artist showing her work in Denver and Jersey City. She was an avid reader and always curious about life and the universe. She was politically active throughout her life, protesting for causes she felt strongly about and volunteered as a poll worker. She was a loyal friend and a resolute mother. She was an active member of her community joining the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ladies Auxiliary, and a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. She volunteered her time as a Foster Grandparent. She donated her time at the St. Paul’s the Apostle Church library. She worked as a preschool teacher at the River School, Newport Center, Jersey City, NJ, a job she loved and often spoke about.

Julia was preceded in death by her brothers Johnny Santos and Robert Cuadrado and is survived by her sister Frances Arroyo, her four daughters, eight grandchildren, three nieces, three grand nieces, one nephew, three grandnephews, one great-grandniece, five great grandchildren and her husband Joseph Janik.

“Grieve not or speak of me with tears but laugh and talk of me as though I were beside you. I loved you so. It was Heaven here with you.”

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