Julia Sohl

JULIA LOUISE SOHL, age 91, died peacefully on Wednesday March 16, 2016 at Brookdale rehabilitation facility in Richmond Heights and was reunited with her loving son Kenneth, Jr who died suddenly on March 10, 2016.

JULIA LOUISE SOHL (nee Novotney) was born April 4, 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia, moved with her family to Starford, Pennsylvania and graduated from Commodore High School. As a young, independent woman she ventured to Cleveland, Ohio and worked for American Auto Insurance, then during the war she worked on the factory floor at Eaton Axle Co. where she met and married the love of her life, Kenneth Sohl. They built their home in Richmond Heights, Ohio, in 1948, before the neighborhood roads and utilities were established.  Raising their family of four children, they were also active citizens in their developing community for 68 years, honored by Mayor Daniel Ursu in 2012 for their contributions. A member of Mayfield United Methodist Church, Julie also served in the church’s Naomi’s Circle, on Richmond Heights School PTA, and she spent many years participating and planning activities with the Richmond Hts. Senior Citizens Club and the Gardening Club, for which she was a founding member. A devoted wife and mother, she also enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, cooking, baking, boating, swimming, water skiing, travel and social interaction.  Above all, she loved people, and she nurtured friendships and personal relationships as she did the flowers in her garden — with patience, tolerance, generosity, kindness, optimism and love.

Julia was a loving and devoted wife and partner for 69 years of Kenneth Sohl,; loving mother of Kenneth Sohl, Jr.(deceased) (wife Catherine, deceased), Janeen (Sohl) McKenzie, Linda Sohl-Ellison (husband Monti) and James Sohl; devoted grandmother of Shauna (McKenzie) Peterson (husband Joel), Jason McKenzie, John McKenzie (wife Megan), Cheryl Wittine (husband Eric), great grandmother of Julia and Alex Peterson, Carly (Wittine) Medvic (husband Dan) and Christopher Wittine and great- great grandmother of Emma Medvic; cherished daughter of the late George and Julia (nee Alexander) Novotney; dearest sister of Bernard Novotney (wife Kathleen deceased), Edward Novotney (wife Loretta), John Novotney (wife Sylvia) and the late George Novotney (wife Betty, deceased), Mary Ann Knapik (husband Michael) and Anna Mae Girgas (husband Joseph); dear sister-in-law of Roseman (Harris) Sohl and the late Edgar Sohl and Dorothy (Sohl) Dickle. (husband William, deceased); treasured aunt and great-aunt of many nieces and nephews. Julia’s family appreciates the wonderful caregivers at Brookdale, Hospice of the Western Reserve, TaylorMade & CDC Dialysis & her doctors at Lake West Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Julia’s memory to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44110. Cremation by DeJohn Crematory. Family and friends are invited to pay tribute and celebrate the beautiful spirit and life of Julia Sohl in a Celebration of Life Service Monday April 4, 2016 at 11:30 AM at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) where friends will be received from 10 – 11:30 AM.