Julia T. (Dillon) Johnston, 86, passed away after a lengthy illness on Thursday, September 14 at The Stanton, in Queensbury, NY.

Born March 3, 1931 in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Timothy Moynihan and Margaret Dillon both originally immigrants from Ireland.

Julie (she disliked being called Julia) grew up in the New York City area. Placed in foster care at a young age she was taken under guardianship by a wonderful woman she called Auntie Katie (Katherine Roddin) and Julie’s children would call Grandma. Katherine Roddin’s extended family embraced Julie as one of their own. Uncle Sonny, Aunt Viola, Aunt Dottie and cousins, Maureen and Carol Ann were integral parts of Julie’s young life. Soon after high school Julie met and married Henry L. Johnston, originally of Louisville, Kentucky and remained married to him for 53 years until his passing in 2003.

Julie and family moved to Greenwich from Long Island in 1966 and then to South Glens Falls in 1967 where much of the family still resides.

She worked many jobs during her years, often in a bookkeeping role, for many local businesses in the South Glens Falls area. Her longest tenured job was at the family business, Northway Decking and Sheetmetal, of which her husband Henry was the owner. Julie also worked briefly housekeeping at St. Michael’s Church in the rectory and went on to perform bookkeeping duties at St. Alphonsus Church.
Later in life she helped operate another family business, the Northwoods Inn, with her husband and when he worked out of state finishing his career she operated the Northwoods Deli on Saratoga Road with her young son. Julie retired in 1991.

Early in retirement Julie helped with the Latch-Key program at Moreau Elementary School and later often spent time at the Moreau Community Center visiting friends, playing cards and socializing.

Julie was blessed to have many friends throughout her life, certainly too many to name individually, but especially dear to her were her long-time friends Nancy Kelleher, Elaine Mooney, Emily Turco and Doris Wallace.

As an only child, Julie’s foremost desire was to have a large and close knit family. To that end she raised a family of five boys and one girl and instilled in them the importance of family in everyday life. Family gatherings were always full of food, stories and laughter and will continue far into the coming years in honor of her feisty and loving spirit.

She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mary Jane, who died in 1954.

Survivors include her five sons and one daughter, Henry and wife Patsy of South Glens Falls; Mark of South Glens Falls; Diane Owens of South Glens Falls; Michael and wife Jeni of Castle Rock, Colorado; Matthew and wife Terri of South Glens Falls and Timothy and wife Wendy of South Glens Falls. Eleven grandchildren; Jeremy and his wife Elizabeth of Lewis Center, Ohio; Timothy of South Glens Falls; Dustin and his wife Kate of South Glens Falls; Zachary and Jennifer of South Glens Falls; Kristen of Fort Myers, Florida; Kyrsten and Kelley of South Glens Falls; Tara of Dallas, Texas; TJ of South Glens Falls and Meghan of Maitland, Florida. A host of great-grandchildren abound whose ranks undoubtedly will grow as the years go on. Julie would often say how proud she was of each and every one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and what a wonder it was that someone that had such a tumultuous start to life and a myriad of struggles throughout could have been blessed with such a large, loving family.
Arrangements are in the care of the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, 80 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in St. Mary’s Cemetery in South Glens Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York Chapter, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, New York 12205.

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