Julia Ann “Julie” Silsdorf, 85

June 24, 2024

Julia Ann Silsdorf, lovingly known as Julie, passed away peacefully in Charlottesville, Virginia on June 24 at the age of 85. Born on February 4, 1939, in Reading, PA, Julie was the eldest of five children to Arlan and Catharine (Koch) Moyer. Her father, a teacher and junior high school principal, and her mother, a dedicated homemaker and church organist, instilled in her a deep sense of compassion, dedication and a lifelong love of music.

Julie graduated from Wilson High School in West Lawn in 1957 with aspirations of becoming a doctor. Although circumstances led her to pursue nursing instead, she embraced her career with a heartfelt commitment, graduating from Lankenau School of Nursing in 1960. Over a remarkable 40-year career at Lancaster General Hospital she exemplified the kind-hearted spirit of a nurse, retiring in 2002. Her last several years were spent teaching in the school of nursing, a role she cherished.

On September 17, 1960, Julie married Lee Carl Silsdorf, a fellow Berks County native and US Navy veteran. Their love story began at a Luther League meeting in 1955 and blossomed through years of correspondence while Lee served in the Pacific. They built a life together in Lancaster, where Lee worked for RCA Corporation, and Julie pursued higher education, earning her B.S. in Nursing from Millersville University and her M.S. in Nursing Education from Villanova University.

Julie and Lee’s family grew with the addition of their daughter, Carla Lee, in 1964, followed by the births of their sons, Arlan in 1967 and Scott in 1969. They enjoyed traveling and family life until Lee’s passing in 2001. Julie continued to find joy in her retirement, spending time with her seven grandchildren, volunteering, and traveling extensively. In 2011, Julie married Nevin R. Groff and enjoyed three short years together cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.

Despite facing personal losses, including the deaths of her son, Arlan and her sister Arlinda Miller in 2010, her second husband Nevin in 2014, and her daughter Carla in 2017, Julie remained resilient. She moved to Norfolk, VA, in 2018 to live with her son Scott and his family, and later to an assisted living facility. Julie spent her final year in Crozet, VA, close to her son and grandchildren.
Julie is survived by her sisters, Rose Secord of Douglassville and Katie (Gerry) Smith of Sinking Spring; her brother, John (Ginny) Moyer of Millersville, MD; brother in law Richard Miller (Wernersville); her son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Beth of Crozet, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Rachel of Westerville, Ohio; and her grandchildren, Lyssa, Emma, Abby, Jonah, Lauren, Leilani, and Thomas.

A celebration of Julie’s life will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 200 W. Orange Street, Lititz, PA on Saturday, June 29th. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, with service at 11:00 am, and burial immediately after the service at Machpelah Cemetery in Lititz. Julie’s warmth, dedication, and love for her family and community will be deeply missed.