Juliana Thayer Williams

Juliana Thayer Williams died peacefully on April 13, 2023. She was 85.

Known as Julie to her friends and “Aunt Ju” to her many nieces and nephews, Juliana was devoted to her family and the community of Pepperell, Mass, her hometown of 50 years.   She was the widow of the late Major Walter Douglas Williams.

Julie, the youngest of four sisters, grew up in Lancaster, Mass, where her parents Duncan and Priscilla Thayer operated an apple orchard and maintained a large herd of Corriedale sheep.  She often spoke of her parents’ involvement in public service (her mother was a Gray Lady at Fort Devens Hospital; her father was a Massachusetts state representative, and they were both involved in agricultural and town affairs). Their influence, coupled with Julie’s unwavering empathy and kindness, led her to choose a career and lifestyle focused on serving others.

After attending Lancaster High School, Julie went on to Bradford Junior College and received a Bachelor’s degree from Clark University.  In 1956, Julie met Walter Douglas Williams, a recent graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, at a party hosted by her aunt in Baltimore.  Eight years later, Julie was living in Boston, working at Children’s Hospital.  She met “Doug” again while he was passing through the city.   Six months later, they were married.

Julie and Doug soon embarked to the south of India, where Captain Williams was assigned to attend an international officers’ training program at the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington (Coonoor). They were then stationed briefly at Ft. Leavenworth and in 1966 he was deployed to Vietnam as a US Army Ranger.  In October, Julie gave birth to their first child, Margaret Douglas Williams.   After completing his first tour and visiting his new family in Massachusetts in April of 1967, Doug, now Major Williams, returned to Vietnam, serving in the 4th Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. On July 20, 1967, Doug was killed in action in the region of Dak To.  At that time, Julie moved to Pepperell, where she became active in many community activities.

While raising her daughter, Julie shifted to education and began teaching math and reading to elementary school-aged children.   Upon earning a Master’s Degree in Education at Lesley College (now Lesley University) in Cambridge, MA, Julie became a special education tutor in central Massachusetts.  Some of her happiest professional years were at Spaulding Memorial School in Townsend, Mass.  Her kindness and patience put children at ease, and she took great pleasure in seeing them become excited about reading.   She often repeated a quote from one of the Spaulding third graders who, while leaving for summer vacation, joyfully exclaimed, “Thanks for all the learnin’!”

Julie diverted from teaching in the school system when she joined the staff of the Indian Museum at Fruitlands Museums in Harvard, Mass. As a docent, she became an avid scholar on Plains and New England Native American cultures, researching the history and use of the many objects in the Fruitlands collection. Most of all, she loved talking with children about the artifacts in the museum and listening to their queries and ideas.  She and her good friend and fellow docent Lois Gilmore developed an educational curriculum using authentic tools and crafts for a “hands-on” use in local schools.

Julie brought her love of children and reading into her volunteer service as the librarian at the Pepperell Community Church and a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America.   She volunteered for Road to Recovery, driving cancer patients to and from chemotherapy appointments, and she joined the team at the local food pantry, Pepperell Aid from Community to Home (PACH).   Julie enjoyed meeting the PACH clients, sharing recipes and listening to stories about their lives as she made food deliveries.   She loved gardening, especially at the Vietnam Memorial in Pepperell, and participated in American Legion and VFW events. She maintained friendships with many of the Pepperell veterans and advocated for veterans and POW/MIA officers in various forums. Julie traveled several times to Washington, DC to attend the dedication of the Vietnam Wall Memorial and to read names of fallen soldiers at memorial anniversary events.

For Julie, family was perhaps the most important element of life.  She adored and admired her sisters and as their families grew, Julie enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews. She attended their concerts and plays, baseball and football games, graduations and other celebrations of their milestones.  She was a loving mother and supported her daughter whole – heartedly, even as Margaret pursued a job that took her thousands of miles and many time zones away from Pepperell.  Julie never forgot a family birthday and helped to prop up the Hallmark Card corporation with a steady purchase of cards –not only for birthdays but for Valentine’s Day, Halloween and other holidays.  She loved her nieces and nephews and thought of them as her own children.    An avid seamstress and quilter, Julie sewed quilts for each of them.

For the last four years of her life, Julie resided at Bridges by Epoch, a memory care residence in Nashua, New Hampshire.  The team at Bridges -- a group of highly skilled and caring professionals -- made her life comfortable, fun, social and safe.  She enjoyed ballroom dancing sessions and live musical performances.   In addition to the wonderful Bridges staff, the team at Home Health Hospice and the Center for Physical Therapy and Exercise (CPTE) provided compassionate and caring support to Julie and her family.

Julie was pre-deceased by her sisters, Priscilla Thayer, Pauline Thayer Duke and Cornelia Thayer Adams.  She leaves behind her beloved daughter Margaret, eleven beloved nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and nephews, and a huge community of friends.  Her smile and hearty laugh will be missed by all who knew Julie and whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 11:00 am at the Community Church of Pepperell, 3 Townsend St., Pepperell, MA followed by a buffet lunch at the church. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider honoring Julie’s compassionate spirit by reading a book to someone or volunteering for a community organization, such as a food pantry or veterans’ support group.