WORCESTER-Julia M. (Yankus) Howard, born August 17, 1925, a longtime resident of Worcester, passed away Monday, August 15, 2016. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 65 years, Richard E. “Richie” Howard on January 3, 2013 and a grandson, Mark W. Cronin, Jr. on February 13, 2016.
A devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, she leaves her eight children: Judy A. Nelson and husband Ralph, Nancy E. Cronin and husband Mark, John P. Howard and wife Barbara (Hammond), Joan M. Howard and her partner Lauren Lennerton, Barbara J. Cherecwich and husband John, Michael A. Howard and wife Susan (Ritchotte), David E. Howard and wife Carolyn (Kheboian) and Joseph P. Howard and his partner Mat Price. In addition to Mark Jr’s wife Yuko (Isome), Julia also leaves thirteen grandchildren; Matthew Nelson and wife Carla (Hall), Colleen Cronin and friend Jeremey Gagne, Richard Cherecwich and wife Ryan Rose (Weaver), Michael Howard, Marissa Howard and husband Anthony Nguyen, Daniel Howard and fiancée Molly Kleyboecker, Andrew Cherecwich and wife Anna (Verhelst), Airman Justin Howard, USAF, Adam Howard, Alison Howard, Kevin Howard, Gregory Howard and Nicholas Howard: two great grandchildren, Mia Isome Cronin and Elliot Edward Nelson.
She was born in Lowell, daughter of Anthony and Veronica (Stanulonis) Yankus and graduated from Commerce High School. Julia worked at Morgan Construction and Stone and Berg Lumber Company for several years. She was a longtime communicant at our Lady of the Angels Church.
Julia was a volunteer at Heard Street School and she was an avid Red Sox fan.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, August 18 from CALLAHAN FAY & CASWELL Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street with a Mass at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street. Entombment will follow at Notre Dame Mausoleum. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, August 17th from 4-7 pm at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Our Lady of the Angels Building Fund, 1222 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603. To place an online message of condolence, please visit www.callahanfay.com