Julia (Julie) Dicus Weary, 93, most recently of Heritage of Hudson, Hudson, Ohio, passed away within hours of testing positive for COVID-19 Jan. 28, 2022, surrounded by the wonderful nursing staff to whom she had endeared herself. The family would also like to recognize the great nursing staff of the Crown Center of Laurel Lake where Julia previously resided.
Julia was born Nov. 11, 1928, in Evanston, Illinois, the daughter of Allen Benjamin and Ida (Crary) Dicus. She was a graduate of Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Illinois. After completing two years at Wells College in Aurora, New York, she transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to pursue a degree in mathematics.
Julia left Northwestern to marry the love of her life, Ralph “Bix” Cudney Weary, the older brother of her best childhood friend, Susan (Weary) Bird, in January 1950. They settled on the North Shore of Chicago until relocating in 1958 to Hudson, Ohio where they raised five children and thrived. It is a testament to Julia that eventually both her mother, Ida, and her mother-in-law, Florence (Cudney) Weary, relocated from Taos, New Mexico and Glencoe, Illinois respectively to Hudson for the final chapters of their lives, living next door to one another and becoming dear friends.
Julia and Bix managed to keep the spark alive for 72 years of marriage, as well as to make their children and their friends feel the magic, too! Julia always had time for a cup of coffee and a good conversation. Her laugh was contagious, her wisdom deep. She loved creative problem solving. She was the perfect mix of proper manners and a witty and dry sense of humor. She was an excellent hostess, making everything look effortless. Julie loved gardening, entertaining, a brisk walk, black licorice, Bix, a good cookbook, scrabble, knitting, skiing, Taos, reading, tennis, her manual typewriter, a glass of wine, sewing, P.E.O., musical theater, Bix, a game of spite & malice with grandchildren, dill pickles, Lake Michigan, sending children off to consult a dictionary, church choir, platform tennis, Pi Beta Phi, crossword puzzles, having her hair brushed and Bix. She was very competitive. She loved sitting around with family to hear the telling and retelling of stories she found so funny that she would laugh until she cried.
Julia instilled in each of her children the sense that they “came from good stock” and she shared equally wonderful stories about the maternal and paternal sides of their family. She gave great encouragement and “wings” to each of her offspring, starting when they were young. She raised a tight knit group of siblings that, though geographically scattered, has enjoyed visiting one another and Hudson whenever possible with their own broods. Weary family reunions have been a tradition over the years and a highlight for all.
In addition to her sweet Bix, Julia is survived by her five children and their spouses including Allen Cudney “A.C.” Weary (Kim Zimmer) of Verona; Linda (Jay S. Bricker) of Rumson; Julia (Julie) Weary Mueller of LaGrange, Illinois; Ralph Cudney Weary Jr. (Lynn Ogden) of Portland, Oregon; and Abigail (Gary Wenstrup) of Western Springs, Illinois. She is survived by 16 grandchildren and their spouses including Rachel (Brian Wychules), Max (Rebecca McGregor) and Jake (Vera Bulder) Weary; Adam (Kate McKenna), Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth Bricker; Kristin (Christopher Spiewak) and Ben (Alexandra Joern) Mueller; Jack and Oscar Weary, Cameron and Emily Ogden-Fung; Sam, Alex and Daniel Wenstrup; and by four great-grandchildren, including Vincent and Reed Wychules, Sophie Weary and Chase Cudney Mueller, with two more on the way!
Julia was predeceased by her best friend and brother, Allen Benjamin Dicus Jr. (Diana Hobart) of Garden City, Idaho, March 8, 2020, and Bix’s twin brother Rollin D. Weary Jr. (Joan Butler) of Vero Beach, Florida. on April 12, 2020. She is survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins far and wide.
A memorial service and celebration will be scheduled for the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Julia Dicus Weary Memorial Fund at Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson, Ohio 44236 where she sang in the choir and spent many years caring for the church’s memorial garden. For more information visit johnsonromito.com.
The article originally appeared in the February 17 – 23, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
