Marie Howard

Mrs. Marie Ann Howard, a 26-year resident of Julian and active member of her community, died at the age of 64 on Thursday, January 6th at Palomar Hospital. Marie died from chronic kidney disease caused by a Lupus like syndrome. She gracefully transitioned into the afterlife surrounded by her loved ones. A memorial service will be held at the Julian United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 15th at 1:00pm.
Marie was born in San Francisco, California on June 4, 1946 to Joseph and Florence Aragone. She and her sister, Joan Aragone, were raised in the Sunset District of San Francisco. She attended Saint Gabriel’s Elementary School and graduated from Mercy High in 1964. Living out her dream of becoming a nurse, she graduated from Saint Joseph School of Nursing in 1967.
After graduating from nursing school she worked at Merrit Hospital in Oakland, California. There she met and married the love of her life, Dr. James Luther Howard. Together they had a very rich marriage traveling, camping, spending time with friends and family, and giving back to the community. They moved from Oakland to Julian in 1984 to provide a better environment to raise their two children, Anthony and Tara Howard.
Marie worked as home health nurse for Palomar Pomerado Home Health until she was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1999. She received a kidney transplant in 1999 donated by Robert Relaford, a family friend from Julian, which gave her a 12-year extension on her life. She was very grateful for the gift she had been given.
Marie’s husband died suddenly from a heart attack in 2002. She then spent the next four years of her life traveling between Julian and Maui to enjoy time with her children and soak up the tropical sun. Anthony and his wife, Sara Howard, provided her with two adorable grandsons, Dylan and Jordan Howard. Delighted to be a grandmother she devoted the past three years of her life to nurturing and providing childcare for her grandchildren. They were the light in her life and kept her going while her health was gradually declining. During her final days she told her children that they are what brought joy to her life and was very proud of whom they have become. She loved her family very much and was devoted to being the best wife, mother, and grandmother she could be.
Marie was a very active member of the Julian United Methodist Church and served on the Board of Trustees and United Methodist Women. She was also an active member of the Benet Foundation, which provides medical supplies to those in need. No matter how ill she was or what the circumstances were she always put the needs of others before her own. She was a very beautiful, courageous, strong, and kind person. A true friend to all who knew her. Marie was a spiritual woman and was not afraid to pass on to the afterlife. She was eager to reunite with her husband and be free of the pain she was enduring.

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