Dr. Julia Hussman

“Indeed all vanish except what is indestructible - the soul, and the good deeds one leaves behind.”

- Julia Hussman

We mourn the passing of Dr. Julia Hussman – loving mother and grandmother, caring pediatrician, and humanitarian. Even at the age of 91, she continued to practice medicine, to love deeply, and to share wisdom. To the family, colleagues, and friends who cherished Julia, she remained too young to be lost. She passed on December 25, 2022. Yet her boundless love, her beautiful soul, and her countless acts of care, healing, and generosity remain ever-present.

Julia was born on February 15, 1931 to Emir Fauzi and Samra Henawi El-Attrache. Her life was a rich journey that began in the mountains of Jabal Druze in Syria. The government of France, who esteemed the Druze for their courage, generosity, honor, and love of freedom, offered Julia what was to become her greatest strength – an education. She attended Saint Famille boarding school in Damascus, and studied medicine at the French Université Saint Joseph in Beirut, where she was among only five female students in a class of fifty-five. She delighted in her studies, and recalled spending day and night in the library.

Through determined learning and comprehension, Julia earned the highest honors in medical study, traveling to the US and accepting residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital and then at Children’s Memorial in Chicago. To Dr. Julia, medicine was both an occupation and a spiritual vocation; prayer was both a habit and way of being. As a pediatrician, she found a way to unite these, and devoted her life to healing sick children. Along that journey, she met her beloved husband, Dr. Lothar Hussman, and together they raised three sons – Karl, Mark, and John.

Through her skill as a diagnostician, attentive care for her patients, and comprehensive knowledge of medicine, Dr. Julia became the Chair of Pediatrics at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. She never retired. Even after sixty-five years of practice, she extended her warmth and care to others. Often, families would arrive to her front yard or doorstep seeking help, leaving not only with treatment, but with help for groceries or medicine.

Julia exuded dignity in manner, grace in countenance, and loveliness in speech, her beautiful French accent always rich with story, history, philosophy, and poetry. She held herself with an elegant yet humble nobility, born not of privilege but of character. She found precious value in education, reading, and study, continuously developing her intellect – learning seven languages and committing countless literary passages to memory.

She believed that anything is possible with commitment and devotion. Through her discipline, determination and achievement, she broadened the scope of what was possible for women. She exemplified a life of unceasing love for God, children, family, and humanity. Her gifts remain alive in everyone whose life she touched.

Julia is survived by her sons Mark and John (Terri), her grandchildren John Patrick (JP) and Julianne, and her siblings Lutfi and Kuhaila. She was predeceased by her son Karl, her husband Lothar, and her siblings, Dr. Selim El-Attrache, Dr. Mamduh El-Attrache, and Nadia El-Attrache.

May her memory remind us to live with intention, faith, purpose, and service to others; to envelop others in love, leaving behind – in her words – what is indestructible.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 10:30 AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 2:30 PM at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights.

The Funeral Service will be live streamed beginning at 2:15 PM on Saturday. Please click on the following link to view the service. https://www.asimplestreaming.com/jhussman/

Interment will be private.