The Mockingbird Foundation, its board members, and the various working groups join friends and family in celebrating the life and mourning the sudden passing of long-time fan and online friend Julia McAllister.

Julia succumbed to complications related to epilepsy, unexpectedly but peacefully, in her sleep on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, at age 38.

She passed at the side of her devoted fiancé Brian Sherman, to whom she was scheduled to be married this Christmas, followed by a New York City honeymoon.

As someone posted on her Facebook page, “With the wave of her sparkly pink wand she is gone to a place where Phish always plays, the sandwiches are fresh, the flamingos flock, the grammar is correct, the spelling is perfect and the ice cube caddy is full.”

Julia is also remembered in recent threads on the Vibes Forum (“We’ve lost a ray of sunshine”) and Jambands.ca (“Rest in Peace, Patchoulia”), and will long be remembered through her blog and other online venues.

From her obituary…

Future daughter-in-law to Heather and David Sherman, who will cherish the time they had with Julia. To be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her family – father Thomas McCourt and wife Karen, sisters, Lisa Harber (Shawn), Megan McCourt and brother Tommy McCourt. Aunt to Brodie and Marleah. Predeceased by her Dad William McAllister who raised Julia with unconditional love and support. Survived by Dixie Robinson whom Julia called Mom. Remembered by countless friends, many referred to as family – especially her best friend and sister Gill – and all of her colleagues at Rogers Communications.
Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto, at Windermere, east of the Jane subway, on Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday December 1, 2010 at 3 p.m. If desired, remembrances may be made to Epilepsy Canada or The Mockingbird Foundation.

There will also be a memorial gathering in Glen Falls, NY, on December 11th.