Julia Gritchin was bom July 14, 1923 in Columbia Gardens, a rural area just south of Trail, B.C., to parents William and Polly Konken.
Here she lived in a house together with a great-grandmother, grandparents, parents, 2 siblings Bill and Frank, four aunts, two uncles and two cousins- a total of sixteen persons from newborn to the age of a great grandma.
In the year of 1928 Julia, with her parents and two siblings, moved to Slocan Park, BC. In 1931 an additional sibling was bom - she was named Mary. That is when the family moved to a farm further up the Slocan valley to a place called Appledale, where a new house was build on a small fann. At the time it was the only painted one.
In the year of 1942, on February 7 Julia married Alex Ivanovich Gritchin of Grand Forks, B.C. It was here that she welcomed another sibling, namely Jack, shortly after the Konkens moved to Grand Forks.
Julia was a lifelong member of the U.S.C.C. She was passionate about volunteering in many community events and organizations such as the United Way, Fall Fairs and cooking groups. She enjoyed singing, pa11icipating in choirs, in one which with husband Alex, they travelled by train to perform at Expo ‘67 in Montreal, Quebec.
She enjoyed gardening as well as helping husband Alex with potato fanning. She enjoyed visitors and treated them with exceptional hospitality. She will be remembered as generous, kind, honest and patient, with an incredible work ethic.
Words cannot express our gratitude for the compassion, love and care she had shown to our families. She will be remembered by her large extended family and friends as a kind, generous and strong lady, one who always had her door and her arms open for everyone and her fridge open even wider! She will live, forever, in our hearts.
She was predeceased by her husband Alex, her parents William and Polly Konken, brother Bill and sister-in-law Ann with nephews Brian and Phil, sister Mary Wishlow and niece Judy Thomas.
Surviving her are her two brothers Frank Konken and Jack Konken with their families, brother-in-law Alex Wish low, as well as many loving nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Julia passed away serenely on October 6, 2016 in Grand Forks. May God accept her into His kingdom and may she rest in peace. A funeral service was held Oct. 12, 2016 at the U.S.C.C. Community Centre followed with a burial in the Sion Cemetery, Grand Forks. Arrangements entrusted to the Baker Family of Grand Forks Funeral Home.