Julie Ileen Boscia

Julie Ileen Bosica (Sparks) was born December 8, 1976 and a week later was adopted by Gerald and Ileen Sparks. She lived in Grand Junction, Colorado through High School. She showed her compassion and love for all around her from the very beginning. She loved taking care of her younger siblings, Jennie and Steven and was always happy and anxious to help around the house any way she could. She would mow the back yard and, before starting, always asked Steven what letter he wanted mowed into it. She would mow that letter and he would watch from the upstairs window. She was always giving her siblings and other younger kids on the street rides on her bike and made sure everybody felt included in anything that was happening. She continued to show her love by serving others through middle and high school. She graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1995 where she was active in Choir, Band and several other extra-curricular activities. She drove the “pink lady”, a 1956 Chrysler that was once her grandparents, had a push-button transmission, and was known to give rides to anybody who needed it. She was able to get her cosmetology license during her senior year, a talent she would practice all her life. The summer after graduation she moved to Lake Powell for work but was known to come home several times a week, depending mostly on what was being made for dinner. After her summer in Lake Powell, she moved to New York to become a nanny. She quickly fell in love with New York, a love that would forever change her life in many ways. After returning to Colorado, she worked at a local salon cutting hair and quickly impressed the franchise owners with her work ethic and dedication to the customer. She was promoted to general manager and moved to Durango, Colorado for a time to open several new stores and operate several others. After leaving the salon and returning to Grand Junction, she married Mike Boscia Jr. whom she had met while living in New York. The two of them were together for several years but ultimately decided to part ways as friends. Julie continued to cut hair for anybody who needed it. She also joined the Mesa Country Sheriff’s Victim’s Advocate Program as a volunteer, lending aide and emotional support to anybody who had endured a hardship. She also started work at a bank as a teller, quickly being promoted to a personal banker and ultimately leaving the bank as she was hired by one of her banking customers as the general manager of an orchard. She worked hard and was dedicated to the business but most importantly the people who worked there. In true Julie fashion, she quickly fostered a feeling of family within the business and created life-long relationships as she did everywhere and with everybody she came to know. Julie was an excellent cook. She loved cooking for anybody who would let her and she was always looking at fun, new recipes to try. She also loved being outside and found an excuse to go fishing every chance she had. She loved growing things and had plants to care for regardless of where she lived. One of Julie’s greatest joys in life was being an aunt. She loved her “kiddos” and moved Heaven and Earth to spend time with them. Anybody who asked her about her nephews knew she could gush about them for hours.

Julie’s health prohibited much activity for her unfortunately. She had several different diagnosis throughout the years, starting at age 12 and only becoming more complicated with time and circumstance. Even though she had chronic pain and dealt with hardships on an almost daily basis, she was always known to say “I’m good” even though her voice told a different story. She would quickly change the subject and ask “…but how are you?” She cared for others, sometimes to a fault, but anybody around her would instantly fall in love with her. She was best known to always have a flower in her hair, a smile on her face and time to help anybody in need.

Julie passed away peacefully at home while she slept on August 13. She is survived by her parents, Gerald and Ileen Sparks, her sister Jennie (Troy) Mitchell and nephews Merrick and Braedon, and her brother Steven (Amanda) Sparks and nephews Carson and Korbin.