Julia Ann Heying

Julia Ann O'Donnell Heying, January 7, 1957- March 12th, 2025 Julia Ann O'Donnell Heying, 68, passed away at her home in Durham, NC on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, surrounded by family and listening to a playlist she made for the occasion. Her devoted husband Glenn, five children, and big sister held her hands and kissed her forehead as she took her last breath to Lucinda Williams' "Sweet Old World," a warm early spring breeze rolling in through the open window. There's nothing Julia loved better than sitting on the back porch on a beautiful Carolina evening with people she loved, listening to music, telling stories, and hugging her grandchildren. Known for her joie de vivre and quick wit, Julia was a voracious reader, lover of the arts, and creative force. She filled a notebook with sketched portraits of her children and grandchildren, whom she loved more than a pig loves mud, and she could whip together a Halloween costume like nobody's business. She also liked to express herself through gardening, spontaneous home improvement projects, and singing karaoke to John Prine, Aretha Franklin, Jason Isbell, Janis Joplin, and Linda Ronstadt into the wee hours. Julia had a knack for turning every moment into a celebration and making everyone feel invited to the party (though you might suddenly find yourself persuaded to join a leg-wrestling match, a midnight conga line, or a skinny-dipping escapade). Julia leaves behind her husband Glenn; her five children and their spouses: Dan (Nancy), Jennifer (Todd), Katy (Peepaw), Silas (Nora), and Eryn (Omar); her eight grandchildren: Ethan, Aidan, Olivia, Rosey, Julian, Donovan, Marco, Elio; and her newborn great grandchild Valencia. Instead of a funeral, Julia asked the family to host a celebration of life this summer. In the meantime, the family suggests that everyone find a pretty spot outside to enjoy daffodils, butterflies, and some darn good music in her honor. Or if you like gallows humor as much as Julia did, the next time you pass a graveyard you can retell one of Julia's favorite jokes: "People are dying to get in there." A celebration of life will be held at a later date.