Julianne O'Gara

Julie was born on November 21, 1935, to William and Phyllis McEntee in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Gross Point as one of four daughters, where she undoubtedly learned her lifelong conviction that movies were better when they included Humphrey Bogart.

In 1958, Julie made the bold, brave, and life-altering decision to leave her teaching career and marry her husband Thomas O’Gara — a man she’d known for less than one month — and move to Portland, Oregon, where Tom was working for Coca-Cola.

Julie would raise seven children with Tom, holding the family together through several cross-country moves before they eventually settled in Madison, Wisconsin. She had a remarkably high pain tolerance, and she demanded the same resilience from her children, whom she cared about deeply throughout her life. Julie was also infamous for her cooking skills, and her recipes for Caesar salad, Coca-Cola cake, and Eggs Benedict, among others, have been passed down as precious family heirlooms.

Julie was a vibrant heart of our family, a devoted, reliable, and wonderfully organized mother who embraced the many joyful, and at times, rather chaotic moments of raising seven active children. Julie maintained a wickedly good and highly specific memory, but she was also a practical woman who refused to dwell on trivial issues or concerns. Her ability to casually remember dates, phone numbers, and name entire families and communities she knew across Madison constantly amazed her children and grandchildren. She was very competitive, and undoubtedly an excellent bridge player. We cannot forget her love of chocolate, so much so that locking it in a large suitcase seemed natural to her.

She began working outside the home again in her late 40’s, helping her husband start Sunshine Magazine in our basement and was rather successful. Sales was her calling and rarely took “no” for an answer. She also excelled with many other small advertising businesses from Isthmus, Madison Magazine, and Wisconsin Trails. After retiring, she kept busy playing tennis, bridge, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

Julie is preceded in death by parents, William and Phyllis; sisters, Phyllis, Mary Alice, and Carol; husband, Tom; and children, Patrick and Mary.

Julie is survived by children, Thomas "Tim" of Canby, OR, Carol of Madison, WI, Chris (Christy) of Phoenix, AZ, Michael of Lake Oswego, OR, and Terry (Catherine) of Los Angeles, CA; as well as many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, WI 53717 on September 4 at 11a.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Julie O;'Gara's name to the ALS Foundation (https://www.als.org/) or Agrace HospiceCare (www.agrace.org/donate/donate-today/).

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road      Madison

608-238-3434