Julia A. Johnston

Julia (Julie aka Judy) Ann (Edmunds) (Marrin) Johnston, age 88, of Nashua, NH and formerly of Sebring, FL, passed away on January 28, 2025 in Nashua.

Born October 20, 1936 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Mrs. Johnston was the daughter of the late Julius Vaughn Edmunds and the late Rosa Harlow (Turner) Edmunds. 

She resided in Lynn, MA for 36 years, Nashua, NH for 28 years, and since 1998, spent her retirement years in Sebring, FL, before returning home to Nashua to live with her daughter Kathleen. 

She leaves one son; Kenneth Eugene and his wife Wendy (Miao) Marrin of Indialantic, FL, two daughters; Patricia Ann Marrin of Lynnfield, MA and Kathleen Marie (Marrin) (Gallagher) McCoy and Daniel IV McCoy, of Nashua, NH, 4 granddaughters; Hailey Marrin Gallagher, Meaghan Marie Harper, Michelle Miao Marrin, and Elizabeth Rosalynn Marrin, two grandsons; James Francis Gallagher III, and Daniel Gregg McCoy V and one great granddaughter; Violet May Stergion. She also leaves a stepson; Christopher Donald and his wife Jacqueline Johnston, stepdaughter; Bonnie Lynne (Johnston) and her husband Glenn Harrington, three step grandsons; Bryan Glenn and Aaron Michael Harrington and Christian Alexander Johnston and three step great grandchildren. She also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews and her brother-in-law, William Baker.

She is predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Donald Robert Johnston and her former husband; Kenneth Joseph Marrin, daughter; Jennifer Jean Marrin, five-month old grandson; Matthew Joseph Harper, newborn twin granddaughters; Marie and Frances Gallagher and her only sibling; Norma Jean Marie (Edmunds) Baker.

Judy grew up and was educated in Lynn, MA and graduated from Lynn English High School in 1954; where she was a member of the National Honor Society, a cheerleader and studied many forms of dancing, including tap and ballet.  She attended the Salem Hospital School of Nursing for 2 years and was employed as an administrative assistant while at General Electric Co. in Lynn, MA.

She was known as Julie when she relocated to Nashua, NH and retired in Sebring, FL. She worked as an executive secretary to the President's of Centronics, Dataroyal, and Facit. Inc. in Nashua, NH. 

Julie was a person who could create anything with a needle. She sewed everything from her children’s unique holiday outfits, elaborate costumes, New Years Eve gowns and curtains for her children’s homes. She made personal soothing “blankies” that were loved by her grandchildren, the newborns of  her children’s friends, and countless others. She also knitted, crocheted and quilted; creating quilts for her daughters and granddaughters that were specially tailored and inscribed based on their individual taste, and they will be forever cherished.

Her favorite hobbies included dancing and teaching clogging (certified teacher with the Florida Clogging Council); past member of Grand Prix Cloggers, Spirit Family Cloggers, and Tanglewood Stompers of Sebring; and Granite State Cloggers of Manchester, NH, where she introduced her granddaughters to dance. She played multiple musical instruments including the tambourine, organ, guitar, bluegrass banjo, mandolin and dobro. She was energetic and loved walking, pickleball, tennis, bike riding, cross-country skiing, motorcycling and RVing all over the country.

Julie was deeply committed to the Catholic faith, regularly attending Mass and participating in parish life. While living in Nashua, NH she was a communicant of the Parish of the Resurrection Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister for 25 years, a member of the Bereavement Team, and taught CCD classes for several years. She was also a communicant of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, FL where she served as an usher.

Julie would like to be remembered for her contagious smile and as an advocate of faith, love, peace, compassion and forgiveness.

Julie experienced the profound impact that the addiction epidemic has on so many individuals and loved one’s around them; marked by moments of anguish, strength, resilience, and love.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Julie’s name to SafeProject, which provides support for overcoming the addiction epidemic in the U.S.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Parish of the Resurrection Catholic Church on Thursday, March 20, 2025, with visitation at the church between 10-11 and a Mass starting at 11am.  The final interment in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Pine Hill Rd., Nashua, NH, will take place at a later date in a private ceremony. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Please find the livestream information here: To watch the live stream, go to https://parishoftheresurrection.org/, scroll about half way down the home page to the photo of the interior of the church. Click on the circle with the arrow to play the live stream.

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