Julia Virginia Neely, of Brookfield, Ohio, passed from this life during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 24, 2020, following a long and healthy life. She was 106.

Julia had resided at Countryside at the Elmwood, Hubbard, Ohio, an assisted living facility, since December 2014.

Julia was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1914, a daughter to Frank S. & Edna (Blumer) Boston.

She was a 1933 graduate of New Castle High School, and furthered her education by attending the Shenango Valley Commercial Institute.

She was a merchandise records supervisor for JC Penney, Hermitage, Pennsylvania, for 33 years before retiring in 1974. Julia was also fondly known as “Judy” and “Penney” by her friends and coworkers.

Her second career began following the death of her husband when she took classes at Sharon Regional so that she could “sit with ill people” at the hospital.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Sharon, Pennsylvania; and Order of Eastern Star #156, Farrell, Pennsylvania.

In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, vacationing at Geneva on the Lake, and going to the casinos with her $20 allowance. However, her most treasured life achievement was when she traveled to the Holy Land.

Survivors include: her nephew, Jim Burdette & wife Judi, of Brookfield; niece, Merriam Burdette, of Palm Harbor, Florida; niece, Judith Wilson & husband Larry, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania; nephew, Woodrow "Woody" Stone, of Indianapolis, Indiana; 6 great-nieces & nephews; 10 great-great nieces & nephews; and 2 great-great-great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph C. Neely, whom she married November 23, 1967, he died October 11, 1976; and by her siblings, Helen Ruth Ebert, Dorothy Stone, Betty Burdette, & Jim Boston.

A memorial service will be scheduled and announced at a later date.

Memorial Contributions may be made to either her church, Brookfield Township Outreach Association, or the Activities Department of Countryside at the Elmwood Assisted Living, both c/o the funeral home.

Julia’s family expresses their sincere thanks to the employees of Countryside at the Elmwood and Bella Care Hospice for the wonderful care and kindness shown to Julia.

Expressions of sympathy may be left for her family at: www.bricelandfuneralservice.com           

Coordination of this tribute for Mrs. Neely was presented by Daniel Briceland, Owner & Director of Briceland Funeral Service, LLC, 379 State Route 7, SE, Brookfield, Ohio 44403. (330-509-3135)