Julia B. (Sekula) Kosempa, age 98, of DuBois, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 26, 2026, at her home.
Julia was born on February 15, 1928 in Stump Creek, PA, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Anna (Bujnowska) Sekula and attended school in Kramer, Pennsylvania. Julia married John Thomas Kosempa, Sr. on September 9, 1950 and they were married for 65 years. He preceded her in death in 2015.
After staying home for many years raising their five children, she worked as a waitress at Steak-n-Snack. Julia was an active member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, attended daily mass; and was a member of The Rosary Infant of Prague Society. She loved playing cards around the kitchen table with her brothers, sisters, and their significant others. She and John were very creative and found joy re-creating crafts they saw while travelling. She and John enjoyed visiting family in the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Julia loved her grandchildren, gardening, canning vegetables, cooking polish delicacies, cutting the grass, fishing, bingo, and in later years putting together puzzles.
Julia is survived by two sons, Damian Kosempa (Carol Turick, longtime partner), John Kosempa Jr., and three daughters, Denise (Paul) Retzlaff, Mary Jo Kosempa, and Roseanne (Albert) Hammeke; nine grandchildren, Dr. Damian (Jessica) Kosempa, Dr. Michael Kosempa, Brittanny (Sean) Keenan, Brendan (Maegan) Proctor, Nikolai (Cali) Retzlaff, Leilani Kosempa , Kristina (Samson) Ferrell, Taylor Rose Hammeke, and Chloe Anne Hammeke in addition to eight great- grandchildren, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Julia leaves a legacy of dedication to her faith, particularly a devotion to her patron, Saint Joseph, and dedication to her loving family; a welcoming home, a hard work ethic, her Polish heritage, and many cherished holiday traditions. Those who had the privilege of knowing Julia, will forever remember her delicious nutrolls!
Along with her husband, Julia was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie, who died at birth, and infant twin great-granddaughters, Lilly and Caiden Keenan. She was also preceded in death by her six brothers, Paul, Frank, Stanley, Joseph, Walter, and Raymond Sekula, and two sisters, Victoria Brosky and Catherine Kuhn.
There will be no public visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 10 a.m. from Holy Spirit Parish at St. Michael the Archangel with Fr. John Malthaner as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to The Rosary Altar Society, Holy Spirit Parish, 118 S. State Street, DuBois, PA 15801 or DuBois Central Catholic, c/o Memorial Gift Program, P. O Box 567, DuBois, PA 15801.
The Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.baronickfuneralhome.com
