Kathleen Julio Vockeroth

Kathleen Julio Vockeroth, 80, of Raleigh passed away Wednesday evening, November 30, 2022 at Rex Hospital.  She was born in Monroe, Louisiana to the late Tony Julio and Selma Carolyn Erickson Julio.

Kathleen was born in Louisiana to Tony and Selma Julio; she was the oldest of three siblings (Carolyn, Ken, and Christine).  Her family later moved to Indiana and then California.  She attended Concordia Colleges in California and Nebraska; and trained to be a Lutheran Day School teacher.  Her first teaching assignment was in Philadelphia, PA, where she also filled in as an organist, taught Sunday School, and sang in the church choir.  In choir, she met Alfred Vockeroth, and later married him.  Kathleen and Alfred had two children (Lisa and Eric), and then they moved to North Carolina.

While her children were young, she volunteered and coordinated Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  She also taught piano and played the organ for worship services.  She actively volunteered in the Via De Cristo/Cursillo movement.  Later, she directed choir, musicians, and handbells, and became the church music director at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, NC.  

She taught piano for 50 years in her living room.  Her family heard piano music when they arrived home from work/school.  Even the family cat Smokey learned that his dinnertime began when the piano music stopped.  When handbells were gifted to RLC, Kathleen began the youth and adult handbell choirs.  After retiring as church Music Director in Cary, Kathy and Al joined Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest where she led new handbell choirs.   

She was kind, helpful, generous, and a good listener.  One of her gifts was creating new ideas.  Kathleen believed music ministry reached people through the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, she encouraged people to participate in worship through music and praise.

In addition, Kathleen enjoyed traveling (reaching all 50 states and 7 continents), learning new things, and visiting family.  

Her friends and family are grateful for her time in their lives.

A memorial service was held at 11 o’clock, Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Hope Lutheran Church, Wake Forest, NC followed by a time to visit with the family at the church.

Mrs. Vockeroth is survived by her husband of 57 years, Alfred F. Vockeroth, Jr.; daughter, Lisa Vockeroth of Durham, NC; sisters, Carolyn Hobbs of Centennial, CO and Christine Kottwitz & husband Martin of Edwardsville, IL; brother, Kenneth Julio of Frisco, CO; brother-in-law, Dennis Vockeroth & wife Diane of Philadelphia, PA; nieces & nephews, Gina, Kira & Brandon Kirkendall, Tony Hobbs, Angie & John Crews, Titus & Milo, Jonathan & Georgiana Hobbs, Milaniah & Isaiah, Katrina & Matt Galen, Camille & Lucy, Michael & Kate Kottwitz, Eleanor & Hayes, Gregory Kottwitz, Amanda & Mark Campanile, Michaela & Callen, and Pamela Vockeroth; extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Eston Hobbs.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hope Lutheran Church, Handbell Fund, 3525 Rogers Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

Arrangements by Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC. (919)556-7400

www.cswfuneralhome.com