October 29, 1921 - November 4, 2013
BURLINGTON FLATS - Julia Bruce, 92, formerly of Burlington Flats, died early Monday morning, November 4, 2013, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
She was born October 29, 1921, in Somerset County, near Altoona, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Austrian immigrants Anton and Agnes (Sernel) Oblak.
After moving with her family to Otsego County, she was first employed at Homer Folks Hospital in Oneonta. It was here that she met her future husband, Gerald W. Bruce, a baker at the hospital. On October 6, 1946, Julia and Gerald were united in marriage in a ceremony at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.
Julia later worked in the dietary department at Hartwick College, as well as in the cleaning services department at SUNY Oneonta.
A devoted communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, she was also a supporter of the Cooperstown Art Association. She loved animals, and had a special affection for her dogs and horses.
Julia is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, John F. and Irene Bruce of Port Crane; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia A. and Stanley Bunal of Bristol, Vermont, and Kathleen and Candeloria Seoane of Rome, New York; three grandchildren, Adam Bruce and his wife, Genevieve, of Denver, Colorado, Anthony Seoane of Rome, NewYork and Robert Seoane of Schenectady; one sister, Dorothy Kelly of the Town of Exeter; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Gerald, who died December 4, 2006. She was also predeceased by three sisters, Agnes Reed who died earlier this year, Mollie Kirn who died in 2005, and Mary Pernat who died in 2002, and three brothers, Anton Oblak, Jr. and Frank Oblak who both died as young children, and her twin, Louis A. Oblak, who died in 2008.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, officiating.
The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Index.
Julia's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff of The Mohawk Homestead for the wonderful care given to our Mother.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
