Julia (Julie) Josephine O'Connell, 64

After a brave battle with cancer for nearly four years, Julie (Ladesic) O'Connell passed away on Dec. 8, 2010, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Kansas City, Kan., on Dec. 19, 1945, as the only child of John and Josephine (Lacy) Ladesic.

She is a 1963 graduate of Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Kan., and is a 1967 graduate of Creighton University where she earned a Baccalaureate degree majoring in English and math with a minor in education. In 1980, she earned a Master of Accountancy from Gonzaga University and became a Certified Public Accountant. She worked for Anderson-Peretti, Co., McFarland & Alton and Moss-Adam, LLP Certified Public Accounting firms. She was the bedrock of her husband's Dental Practice orchestrating the finances of the business.

Julie was a longtime parishioner of St. John Vianney Catholic Church and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Madonna of the Valley No. 2556.

Julie is survived by her husband, Dr. James P. O'Connell, of almost 44 years; her three children and their families: Lt. Col. James and Angela O'Connell of Spokane, Wash., and their three children, James, Alaina and Susan; Kathleen and Ken Turner of Rocklin, Calif., and their three children, Julia, Robert and Joshua; and Kevin and Amy O'Connell of Liberty Lake, Wash., and their two children, Elizabeth and Gavin.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 503 North Walnut Road, Spokane Valley. A traditional Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside Ave., with a reception at the Cathedral to follow in the downstairs dining room. A graveside service will be held the next day for the family at St. Thomas Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d'Alene has been entrusted to handle funeral arrangements.

A special mention must be made of the wonderful support provided by Dr. Joni Nichols and her staff of Cancer Care Northwest and Mariel Gavirati and Carlahn Gayda, the Care Team from Hospice of Spokane.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gonzaga Preparatory High School, 1224 East Euclid Ave., Spokane, WA 99207; St. John Vianney Catholic Church or Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.