Julia Theresa (Durm) LaSata, 86, of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother and proud Registered Nurse, died peacefully on December 22, 2022. Julia was born on March 24, 1936 in Niles Michigan and lived in Niles her entire life. She was dedicated to making her hometown, and Berrien County, a better place for all residents. After graduating from St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, Illinois as a Registered Nurse, she worked briefly at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She then happily returned to Niles where she worked and taught nursing at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. During this time Julia met her husband Charles J. LaSata who was a lawyer in South Bend. They were married in 1961 and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary until Charles' passing on January 1, 2021.
Julia deeply valued nature and believed that being outside was the best place to be. She served as a member, then President, of the Greater Niles Recreation Board for years. She was extraordinarily proud of her work for over 43 years as Chairperson and Board member on the Berrien County Parks Board. Julia was instrumental in securing and developing Silver Beach County Park for the public and never missed a chance to visit any number of our County Parks. With deep roots in her community, Julia was involved in many organizations and projects. As a member at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, she was on the Parish Council, advocated for girl altar servers and for years organized the legendary Pascal Meal. After her children were grown, she worked as a Registered Nurse for the Berrien County Health Department for several years with many close friends from Niles. Berrien County was not the only place that held a special place in her heart. Julia particularly loved going to her family's cabin near St. Ignace, Michigan. She would visit with family and enjoy sunsets over Lake Michigan.
For 50 years, she and her husband Charlie made an annual trek to Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island, Florida. Ever the nurse, she began a blood pressure clinic. Anyone in need could knock on Julia's door at all hours and find help. She loved spending Christmas on Sanibel.
In recent years, even though she was battling dementia, she still treasured spending time with her family and caretakers (the "Ladies"), working in her gardens and a good game of cribbage. She loved laughter and often found it by playing practical jokes on her grandchildren.
Surviving family include her children: Charlie (& Kim) LaSata of Coloma, Michigan; Laura (& Dan) O'Neill, of Chicago, Illinois; and Mary (& Jim) Spiegel of Benton Harbor; grandchildren: Sarah, Anna, Chas, and Claire LaSata; Tim, John, Robert, and Annie O'Neill; and Julia and Eileen Spiegel; her siblings: Charles Durm of Niles, Michigan; Mary (& Tom) Mechtenberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Joseph (& Sandra) Durm of St. Ignace, Michigan; and Marge (& Donald) Hiatt of Niles, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles J., an infant son Thomas Karol LaSata and a brother Thomas Patrick Durm of St Ignace.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 207 South Lincoln Street in Niles by the Rev. Christian Johnston. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29th at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main, Niles, Michigan with recitation of The Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Julia may be made to Berrien County Parks via the Berrien Community Foundation at www.berriencommunity.org/bcparksfund, and the Saint Mary Parish Christian Service Center, 219 South State Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com
Julia deeply valued nature and believed that being outside was the best place to be. She served as a member, then President, of the Greater Niles Recreation Board for years. She was extraordinarily proud of her work for over 43 years as Chairperson and Board member on the Berrien County Parks Board. Julia was instrumental in securing and developing Silver Beach County Park for the public and never missed a chance to visit any number of our County Parks. With deep roots in her community, Julia was involved in many organizations and projects. As a member at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, she was on the Parish Council, advocated for girl altar servers and for years organized the legendary Pascal Meal. After her children were grown, she worked as a Registered Nurse for the Berrien County Health Department for several years with many close friends from Niles. Berrien County was not the only place that held a special place in her heart. Julia particularly loved going to her family's cabin near St. Ignace, Michigan. She would visit with family and enjoy sunsets over Lake Michigan.
For 50 years, she and her husband Charlie made an annual trek to Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island, Florida. Ever the nurse, she began a blood pressure clinic. Anyone in need could knock on Julia's door at all hours and find help. She loved spending Christmas on Sanibel.
In recent years, even though she was battling dementia, she still treasured spending time with her family and caretakers (the "Ladies"), working in her gardens and a good game of cribbage. She loved laughter and often found it by playing practical jokes on her grandchildren.
Surviving family include her children: Charlie (& Kim) LaSata of Coloma, Michigan; Laura (& Dan) O'Neill, of Chicago, Illinois; and Mary (& Jim) Spiegel of Benton Harbor; grandchildren: Sarah, Anna, Chas, and Claire LaSata; Tim, John, Robert, and Annie O'Neill; and Julia and Eileen Spiegel; her siblings: Charles Durm of Niles, Michigan; Mary (& Tom) Mechtenberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Joseph (& Sandra) Durm of St. Ignace, Michigan; and Marge (& Donald) Hiatt of Niles, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles J., an infant son Thomas Karol LaSata and a brother Thomas Patrick Durm of St Ignace.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 207 South Lincoln Street in Niles by the Rev. Christian Johnston. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29th at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main, Niles, Michigan with recitation of The Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Julia may be made to Berrien County Parks via the Berrien Community Foundation at www.berriencommunity.org/bcparksfund, and the Saint Mary Parish Christian Service Center, 219 South State Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com
Julia Theresa (Durm) LaSata, 86, of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother and proud Registered Nurse, died peacefully on December 22, 2022. Julia was born on March 24, 1936 in Niles Michigan and lived in Niles her entire life. She was dedicated to making her hometown, and Berrien County, a better place for all residents. After graduating from St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, Illinois as a Registered Nurse, she worked briefly at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She then happily returned to Niles where she worked and taught nursing at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. During this time Julia met her husband Charles J. LaSata who was a lawyer in South Bend. They were married in 1961 and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary until Charles' passing on January 1, 2021.
Julia deeply valued nature and believed that being outside was the best place to be. She served as a member, then President, of the Greater Niles Recreation Board for years. She was extraordinarily proud of her work for over 43 years as Chairperson and Board member on the Berrien County Parks Board. Julia was instrumental in securing and developing Silver Beach County Park for the public and never missed a chance to visit any number of our County Parks. With deep roots in her community, Julia was involved in many organizations and projects. As a member at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, she was on the Parish Council, advocated for girl altar servers and for years organized the legendary Pascal Meal. After her children were grown, she worked as a Registered Nurse for the Berrien County Health Department for several years with many close friends from Niles. Berrien County was not the only place that held a special place in her heart. Julia particularly loved going to her family's cabin near St. Ignace, Michigan. She would visit with family and enjoy sunsets over Lake Michigan.
For 50 years, she and her husband Charlie made an annual trek to Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island, Florida. Ever the nurse, she began a blood pressure clinic. Anyone in need could knock on Julia's door at all hours and find help. She loved spending Christmas on Sanibel.
In recent years, even though she was battling dementia, she still treasured spending time with her family and caretakers (the "Ladies"), working in her gardens and a good game of cribbage. She loved laughter and often found it by playing practical jokes on her grandchildren.
Surviving family include her children: Charlie (& Kim) LaSata of Coloma, Michigan; Laura (& Dan) O'Neill, of Chicago, Illinois; and Mary (& Jim) Spiegel of Benton Harbor; grandchildren: Sarah, Anna, Chas, and Claire LaSata; Tim, John, Robert, and Annie O'Neill; and Julia and Eileen Spiegel; her siblings: Charles Durm of Niles, Michigan; Mary (& Tom) Mechtenberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Joseph (& Sandra) Durm of St. Ignace, Michigan; and Marge (& Donald) Hiatt of Niles, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles J., an infant son Thomas Karol LaSata and a brother Thomas Patrick Durm of St Ignace.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 207 South Lincoln Street in Niles by the Rev. Christian Johnston. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29th at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main, Niles, Michigan with recitation of The Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Julia may be made to Berrien County Parks via the Berrien Community Foundation at www.berriencommunity.org/bcparksfund, and the Saint Mary Parish Christian Service Center, 219 South State Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com
Julia deeply valued nature and believed that being outside was the best place to be. She served as a member, then President, of the Greater Niles Recreation Board for years. She was extraordinarily proud of her work for over 43 years as Chairperson and Board member on the Berrien County Parks Board. Julia was instrumental in securing and developing Silver Beach County Park for the public and never missed a chance to visit any number of our County Parks. With deep roots in her community, Julia was involved in many organizations and projects. As a member at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, she was on the Parish Council, advocated for girl altar servers and for years organized the legendary Pascal Meal. After her children were grown, she worked as a Registered Nurse for the Berrien County Health Department for several years with many close friends from Niles. Berrien County was not the only place that held a special place in her heart. Julia particularly loved going to her family's cabin near St. Ignace, Michigan. She would visit with family and enjoy sunsets over Lake Michigan.
For 50 years, she and her husband Charlie made an annual trek to Periwinkle Park on Sanibel Island, Florida. Ever the nurse, she began a blood pressure clinic. Anyone in need could knock on Julia's door at all hours and find help. She loved spending Christmas on Sanibel.
In recent years, even though she was battling dementia, she still treasured spending time with her family and caretakers (the "Ladies"), working in her gardens and a good game of cribbage. She loved laughter and often found it by playing practical jokes on her grandchildren.
Surviving family include her children: Charlie (& Kim) LaSata of Coloma, Michigan; Laura (& Dan) O'Neill, of Chicago, Illinois; and Mary (& Jim) Spiegel of Benton Harbor; grandchildren: Sarah, Anna, Chas, and Claire LaSata; Tim, John, Robert, and Annie O'Neill; and Julia and Eileen Spiegel; her siblings: Charles Durm of Niles, Michigan; Mary (& Tom) Mechtenberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Joseph (& Sandra) Durm of St. Ignace, Michigan; and Marge (& Donald) Hiatt of Niles, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles J., an infant son Thomas Karol LaSata and a brother Thomas Patrick Durm of St Ignace.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 207 South Lincoln Street in Niles by the Rev. Christian Johnston. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29th at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main, Niles, Michigan with recitation of The Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Julia may be made to Berrien County Parks via the Berrien Community Foundation at www.berriencommunity.org/bcparksfund, and the Saint Mary Parish Christian Service Center, 219 South State Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com
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