ROHR, Julie Anne

June 19, 1982 – September 16, 2021

 

Our beloved Julie Anne Rohr peacefully departed her earthly life on the morning of September 16, 2021 in the presence of her father, Gary and brother, Jeremy, after contending with Leiomyosarcoma cancer for the past six years. Julie leaves behind to mourn her loss her dear husband David Schoor, her son, Maxwell Rice, her stepson, Jacob Schoor, her parents Marlene and Gary Rohr, siblings, Heidi (Dustin) Griffin, Marcie (Carmen) Esau, Jeremy (Roanne) Rohr, and first husband, Aaron Rice along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers, Herta Rohr and Elsie Tonn and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her grandfathers, Bernhard Rohr and Fred Tonn.

Julie Anne Rohr was born to Marlene (Tonn) Rohr and Gary Rohr, June 19,1982 in Edmonton. She was born several weeks early, eager to begin her adventures. She was the first grandchild on each side to Fred and Elsie Tonn as well as Bernhard and Herta Rohr. From early on, Julie was precocious and determined. She learned to read – Hop on Pop – at the age of three, and thanks to her parents, began a lifelong love of books and reading. Two years after she was born, she was joined by a sister, Heidi, and then two years after that along came Marcie. Finally, little brother Jeremy rounded out the bunch. Julie adored her siblings, especially the cherished time they shared during their many years of homeschooling.

Her family grew up with church and Christian faith as a central part of their lives, with Gary pastoring at churches in Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg. Southside Assembly was where Julie made most of her formative teenage memories. Julie attended Strathcona High School and graduated in 2000 with honors. She attended Northwest (Vanguard) Bible College from 2000 – 2002, where she received a Diploma of Music/Worship Arts and made many of her lifelong best friends. Following her love of writing and asking questions, she graduated Grant McEwan College in 2004 with a Diploma in Journalism.

In 2004, she married her first sweetheart, Aaron Rice, and in 2009 they welcomed their precious and beloved son, Maxwell Cohen Bernard. Julie and Aaron experienced difficult times, and despite their care for one another, faced obstacles they could not overcome and separated in 2012. They maintained a respectful relationship, for which Julie was exceedingly grateful. Julie worked for the Sherwood Park News and went on to work for many years at Elton Construction as Manager of Tenant Relations. She also did wedding, family, and corporate photography projects for many years and always enjoyed working with friends, neighbors and clients.

On January 17, 2015, Julie married David Schoor and welcomed his son, Jacob, into her life marking a new season of joy for her. They were so grateful for one another, agreed to live each day fully, encouraged each other, participated in many neighborhood events and activities, and enjoyed biking, skating, skiing, and travelling together. In November of 2015, Julie was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer. She determined to get through it with hope and optimism, and indeed, this was how she faced each treatment, surgery, and test result. She lived her life with gratitude and vulnerability and loved cultivating relationships. She lived out loud, embracing everything life had to offer. She adored folk festivals and farmers markets, art galleries and good food. She enjoyed travel, especially her annual waterfall-chasing adventures with her cousin Amanda. She’d be the first person to plan a party and often the last to leave. She loved a good political debate, theological or philosophical banter, a twitter connection or a neighborhood book club. She was very involved with charity work over her lifetime, from orphanages to school boards to cancer charities and various church groups.

We are so grateful for all the love and support that was shown during her illness; by the staff at the Cross Cancer Institute, Dr. Tannis Spencer at Willow Family Medicine, staff and surgeons at the U of A Hospital and her many dear friends.

Please refer to https://www.julierohr.org/ for more details regarding her life and celebration of life that is being planned for next spring. We are hoping to hold an event on Saturday, June 18, 2022 if possible. It will be the day before what would have been her 40^th birthday. We appreciate all the gestures of love that have already been extended; Julie wanted to highlight several organizations that meant so much to her. Memorial donations to any one of them would also be most appreciated.

 

Wellspring Edmonton: provides mind, spirit and soul care for those living with cancer and their caregivers. https://wellspring.ca/edmonton/

Nepal Children’s Foundation: a children’s home founded over 12 years ago in Bandipur, Nepal by Julie’s sister Marcie. http://www.ihsmissions.com/nepal-1

Knight’s Cabin: provides retreats for those living with cancer to empower them with research-based information. https://knightscabin.com/

Ursula Richter’s Children’s Home: family friend Ursula Richter founded this children’s day home in Blumenau, Brazil which grew to provide daily meals, care, and teaching for hundreds of children living in poverty. http://ursulaschildrenshome.com/

Our family would also like to recognize the Roozen Family Hospice Centre for the compassionate support they provided in her final days. https://pilgrimshospice.com/roozen-family-hospice-centre/

 

In life, we loved you dearly,

In death we love you still.

In our hearts you hold a place,

No one else will ever fill.