Julia Quinn Dempsey was born June 26, 1936 to James and Laura Quinn. Every three years for the next 9 years, she was joined by a brother: William, Leo, and Paul. Julia was a precocious child and learned to read at three. During World War II, she devoured the newspaper every day. The Quinns enrolled Julia in school as soon as possible, and she began first grade at age four. By five, she would go to the library herself and check out as many books as she could carry. She would go on to spend the rest of her life surrounded by the written word.

During the summers, the family left the city to spend time at a cottage, nicknamed the Judy Q, in Michigan. Given the two-year age gap, Julia didn’t always fit in well with her peers, but she loved learning (except typing class, which she failed more than once). She graduated high school at sixteen and enrolled in college at Loyola University Chicago.

While there, she met James Dempsey, who was quickly smitten by her and would cover for her when she was late for mass. Julia wasn’t much interested in Jim during college, but when he invited her to a picnic after basic training in the army, she quickly changed her mind. Jim proposed on their second date.

After double majoring in political science and history, Julia attended law school at Loyola. She and Jim wrote letters while their paths diverged. She worked as an elementary school teacher during the day, as given her sex, she had only been granted admission to the night school. By the time she received her degree, was the only woman in her class. Jim completed his service and the two were married in 1959. By her final year of law school, Julia was pregnant with their first child, Laura, and took time off from teaching. This gave her more time to study and she was awarded first place in her tax exam, beating out even a fellow student who worked for the IRS. Julia delivered Laura and graduated a few months later.

The young family moved to California. Jim worked while Julia took care of Laura, followed in quick succession by Thomas, and then Leonora. The Dempseys then moved back to Chicago and shortly thereafter, Terrence was born.

Julia was eager to get back to work and joined a law firm once all her children were in school. She was in private practice for a short time before joining the Illinois State Board of Education’s legal department. Julia ran the department for years, advocating for education at the state and federal level. During this time, she and Jim developed a love for the symphony, the opera, martinis, and steakhouses. The family continued heading up to Michigan for the summer, though the Dempseys purchased their own cottage just down the road from the Judy Q.

After years working for the Board of Education, Julia found a new calling and a new way to help shape the lives of children: she was appointed to the bench serving as a judge in juvenile court in Cook County. Julia continued reading extensively on crime, child psychology, child development, education, and mystery novels of every flavor. By the late 1990s, Julia thought she was ready to retire. She and Jim bought a condo in Florida and planned to improve their golf games.

But Julia’s mind couldn’t handle the slower pace.

She resumed working for the State again, this time as a hearing officer, writing decisions on special education cases. Julia enjoyed her work (though she was less fond of the related increased use of a computer and that accursed invention – the keyboard). She had seen her children grow up and welcomed her grandchildren. Then, while at a hearing, she suffered a brain aneurysm. Julia overcame incredible odds and survived, a reluctant patient in therapy, she regained her mental and physical acuity. She retired, for real this time, shortly after and spent her time split between Illinois, Michigan, and Florida.

Julia and Jim spent years enjoying the links, their books, their family, beaches, wine, martinis, operas, symphonies, road trips, a big black dog, and a small white dog. Cancer claimed Jim in 2020 and COVID hit Julia hard six months later. But again, she persevered and recovered after a stint in the ICU. She returned home and tore through hundreds more books before her health began declining in February 2025. She passed peacefully at home with family and excellent care from Hospice of Calumet on May 17, 2025.

Julia’s funeral will be held at St. Maria Goretti (500 N. Gate Dr, Dyer, IN) on Friday, July 18th at 10 a.m. with lunch to follow and then her internment with Jim at Queen of Heaven cemetery (1400 S Wolf Rd, Hillside, IL). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Calumet.