Obituary of Julia Rose Kern

On November 1, 2018, hymns were played, tears, laughter and memories were shared and goodbyes were said.  With love overflowing in her heart and a cross clutched in her hand, a band of angels came, on a boat, to take Julia DeMartini Kern peacefully home to her Lord and onto her next and final journey. Her band of angels included her husband, Arthur Kern, Sr., her son, Artie Kern, Jr., her daughter, Julie Harris, her great grandson, Taylor Kern, her parents Giovanni and Rose DeMartini, and her siblings, Paul, Rose, Lena, Josephine and Mary, her special friend Sol David and many more friends and family. One hundred years ago, Julia’s pure and beautiful life began on September 26, 1918, in Peekskill, NY.  She married Arthur Harvey Kern, Sr. and had five children.  In 1957Julia and Art moved their family to Candor and settled on Honey Pot Road.  In addition to her job as a full time mom, she was a devout member of St. Francis of Assisi in Catatonk, NY, and most recently of St. Catherine of Siena, Ithaca, NY.   Julia taught Sunday School and Pre Cana classes.  She was a member of the Rosary Society, the Lovely Vale Home Bureau, the PTA and was Assistant Post Master in Willseyville, NY for several years.  In their retirement, she and Art traveled to New Mexico and Arizona.   Julia also cherished her very dear special friend of 58 years, Glenna Wickline.  Julia’s life and days were filled with caring for, loving and worrying endlessly about her family.  Her surviving children are Robert (and Evonne) Kern, Rose (and Randy) Blinn, Paul Kern, daughter-in-law, Barbara Kern, and son-in-law James (Sue) Harris.  They blessed her with 15 grandchildren:  Sherri (Mathew) Cotton, Suzanne (Doug) Wilkins, Bill (Laurie) Kern, Steve (Angela) Kern, Eric (Adonis) Kern, Michelle (Bill) Ulrich, Jeremy (Renee) Kern, Paul (Sonya) Kern, Elizabeth Blinn, Lori (Mike) Harders, Abby Blinn, Jennifer (Oz) Cato, Justin (Sarah) Harris, Jeffrey (Keishelle) Harris, Janet (Matthew) Beckwith; 24 great-grandchildren:  Chris (Kate) and Andy (Miranda) Davenport, Madison Cotton, Chelsy (Kyle) Cary, Breanna and Steven Kern, Ethan, Emma and Julia Blinn, Katelyn Bordenet, Teresa, Cecilia and Raina Kern, Bradley and Blake Harris, Owen, Brelyn and Azlyn Cato, Autumn, Kade and Irelan Harris, Nataleigh Beckwith, Danielle and Ryan Rutledge; and her three great-great-grandchildren:  Samantha and Nathan Davenport, Brayden (and soon-to-be-born Kyle) Cary. Julia’s strong personality, feisty spirit, unwavering faith in God and sound mind carried her through to her final breath.  We will miss you terribly and hope you will worry a little less up there where you can see all of us, all the time.  We love you and we will be okay, Grandma.  We will be ok.  A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 11:00 at St. Catherine of Siena,309 Siena Drive, Ithaca, NY.  Burial will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Candor, NY.  Condolences may be made to Julia’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com.