Julia Ann (Blanchard) Hartley

Julia Ann (Blanchard) Hartley, of Somers, Connecticut, formerly of Middleborough, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, Connecticut, at the age of 86.

Julia spent a happy childhood in Abington, eating ice cream brought home from her father’s job at the ice cream plant.  At the age of 10, she moved with her family to their own farm in Middleborough, where she spent many happy years.  While earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics, she married in 1957.  She was a loving wife and an amazing, patient, devoted and scientifically-minded mother of four.  Once her own children were solidly on their way in life, Julia worked to further her devotion to helping young children function at their best by earning a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

She whole-heartedly believed that all children have unlimited potential and innate talents, and she worked tirelessly to help her children learn to thrive.  For decades, Julia was a well-regarded and highly sought after substitute teacher in the Somers, CT and West Stafford, CT school systems.  She often worked five days a week up until her retirement at the age of 65.  She had an authentic and compassionate interest in every child in all her classes and sought to make learning a fascinating, wonder-filled experience that would draw children in and give them the confidence and desire to apply their budding talents and to learn more.  She loved it in her later years when people would stop her and say that they had always remembered her and how much she had meant to them when they had her as a teacher.

She is predeceased by her daughter, Jennifer; her brother, David; and her adored parents, Fred & Hazel Blanchard.

Julia is lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, John J. Hartley; her children, John, Julie, and Jay; her seven grandchildren, John, Michael, Patrick, Sonya, Christopher, Thomas, and Luke; her sister, Hilda; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A brief Graveside Service and Burial will be held at the Cemetery at the Green, Plympton Street, Middleborough, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at 11:00 AM.

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