Julia Hatch Rawak passed away peacefully at her home in Greenwich on Friday April 22nd 2011 at age 96. She was born August 20, 1914, in Cartagena, Colombia to FL Mendez and Myrtle Kerslake Mendez. She came to America in her early childhood growing up in South Bend, Indiana. She was the oldest of five children, Fernando Mendez, Alice Simpson, Mary Jane Mendez and Dr. F. Mendez, who all predeceased her.
Julie graduated from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1936, earning her degree in journalism. She married Thomas E. Hatch of Garrett, Indiana in 1939, and they lived, with their three children, in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin before moving to Greenwich, Connecticut in 1958.
While raising her family Julie enjoyed being a substitute teacher. With her children grown up Julie went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport and began to teach full time. She taught 4th grade at Cos Cob School from 1962 until her retirement in 1975.
She married George Rawak in October, 1975, and they lived in Greenwich and Fort Lauderdale, Florida until George’s death on December 25, 2006.
Always a woman of indomitable strength, she had great passion regarding everything she did. Whether it was raising her children, teaching school, playing tennis, traveling the world or playing bridge it was invariably done with her whole heart and spirit. The words “not possible” or “I can’t” were never part of her vocabulary.
Julie is survived by her son Stephen and his wife Adele of Cos Cob and her daughter Kathleen Barrett and her husband William of Ridgefield. She was a devoted grandmother to Scott Hatch of Annapolis and Stacey Baxendale of Riverside and great grandmother to Ellie and Kate Baxendale. Her eldest son, Thomas E. Hatch, Jr., predeceased her in August 2008.
Family and friends may call at the Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home, 31 Arch St., Greenwich on Thursday, August 28th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, 469 North Street, Greenwich on Friday April 29th at 10:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Julia’s name can be made to Alumnae Memorial Scholarship Fund, St. Mary’s College, 189D Le Mans Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001.
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