Julie Elizabeth Wilcox

Julie Downing Wilcox, beloved wife, mother, and nurse, died with family at her side in her home in Marietta, Georgia on Tuesday, May 9 at the age of 63 following a three-year battle with brain cancer. Julie was born to Major Peter Sharron Downing and Katherine (Kay) Hoey Downing in 1960 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She is survived by her brother Michael Downing, daughters Katie Wilcox and Jaimie Quintero, and husband of 35 years, John Wilcox. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Peter Sharron Downing Jr., and her mother and father.

Julie had an eventful childhood, as her father’s military career required the family to move many times. The family eventually settled in Acton, Massachusetts, where Julie and her brothers attended Acton-Boxboro High School. Julie went on to graduate from the school of nursing at the University of Vermont and began her career at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. After cutting her teeth at Beth Israel, her quest for adventure led her to seek and accept a position in the heart transplant unit at the Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Unbeknownst to Julie, her future husband, John, was at the time working in collaboration with Stanford at the University’s Environmental Safety Facility, only one block away from the Hospital.

Not long after moving to California, John and Julie met through one of the original video dating clubs, where they found themselves mutually attracted to one another’s biographies. They began dating, and in short order agreed to make their relationship exclusive. She and John married and lived together in San Jose, California until 1991. During that time Julie transitioned from hospital to home care nursing and began her long career in providing and managing home infusion therapy.

In 1991 Julie and John were ready to have a family, and decided to relocate to John’s hometown of Marietta, Georgia to be closer to family. Shortly thereafter, Julie gave birth to daughters Katie and Jaimie and stayed at home to care for them for several years. After the children entered school, John started a consulting practice that allowed him to work from home and look after the kids. Julie resumed her career and worked as a key infusion nursing care provider and nursing manager for a succession of high-profile commercial infusion pharmacies.

Julie was in her heart a generous and compassionate person who was always quick to help friends and family in times of need, especially with health-related issues. After moving to Marietta, she spent years selflessly providing care and companionship for John’s elderly aunt and later his father, with both of whom she shared a hard-earned mutual respect. In the ensuing years, Julie made it possible for her mother, also a registered nurse, to relocate to Georgia from New York, and establish a new job and life near her Georgia family. Within a few years she also made it possible for her younger brother, Peter, to relocate from upstate New York to Marietta, where he was able to better utilize his food and beverage knowledge and degree.

After several successful years in the Atlanta area, Peter fell ill. Julie quickly ensured he received excellent medical attention, leading to a diagnosis of a brain tumor. She cared for him through surgery and radiation, brought him into her home, and nursed him back to health. When he was well enough to live on his own, she helped him get a job and resume a normal life. After about five good years, Peter had a relapse, and Julie cared for him in her home until his death.

During Peter’s illness, Julie’s mother, Kay, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Julie again stepped up to care for her mother, and brought her home where she recovered and lived with the family for many years. Several years ago Kay became ill again, this time with metastatic lung cancer. Julie cared for Kay in the home until Kay died in 2018.

Julie’s husband, John, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after he retired in 2016. Julie and her daughters worked tirelessly to see him through chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and recovery, while simultaneously caring for Julie’s mother. Julie’s medical knowledge and insistence on care strategies made it possible for John to get the best possible care and continue to live through what would normally be expected to be a terminal illness. She was endlessly patient and selfless in her love for family.

Throughout the years Julie gladly helped friends, neighbors, and family in need. She patched wounds, brought food and care to the ill, helped friends overcome financial problems, and greatly enjoyed helping others plan and celebrate momentous occasions. She raised by example two fine daughters who have been successful in life and are also compassionate and quick to do whatever they can to help those in need.

Julie always tried to enjoy life and was quick to laugh. During their years on the west coast, she and John enjoyed visiting wineries, national parks, scenic resorts and other attractions the West Coast had to offer. Julie loved the beach and was always eager to vacation on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, often with extended family present. She enjoyed fine dining and wines, and was an accomplished cook and entertainer. She was also an avid and competitive tennis player, playing on ALTA teams with the many friends she had made. When not playing tennis, she could regularly be found attending book club meetings and bridge games. She was a very competitive card player and enjoyed the challenges of beating (or trying to beat) her father-in-law at gin, her mother at bridge, and best friend Margaret at any card game. She loved to travel, and particularly enjoyed family trips to Europe to celebrate graduations.

Julie’s life took a hard turn in mid-2020, when friends and family noticed what were to be determined to be the first symptoms of her serious brain tumor. Her husband quickly got her in to be diagnosed, and surgery followed a few days afterwards. Julie was in bad shape for a few weeks following surgery, and due to the advent of COVID-19, her family was unable to visit her in hospital or rehabilitation for almost a month. She had an immense uphill struggle to recover. Nevertheless, she bravely pushed through months of rehabilitation and several forms of treatment that failed to stem the continued growth of her tumor. Finally, one type of treatment was successful at slowing the progression of her illness, allowing her to live a somewhat normal life for roughly a year. In late 2022 it became apparent that the tumor had begun to grow again, and further treatments would no longer be effective. Her family rallied to her, and provided support, care and comfort as her illness progressed. After several long months of struggling, Julie passed away peacefully at home on the afternoon of May 9, 2023, in the presence of her family.

Julie’s family would like to recognize and thank the many neighbors, family friends and extended family members for their condolences, concern, help, and emotional support that was freely given during this time of need. In particular, the family thanks Margaret and Pete McIntyre and Mary McGoldrick, who strove to brighten Julie’s final days and who provided much needed expert advice and support during a trying time, and Katie’s and Jaimie’s husbands, who selflessly cared for Julie and provided unwavering support to their wives. Julie loved and appreciated you all.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel in Marietta, Georgia.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta, Georgia.

Online guest book at www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .