Julie Elizabeth Troyer, age 43, of Carpiano, Italy formerly of Hudson, WI, died on Sunday, July 29, 2018 after a courageous year-long fight with glioblastoma brain cancer. She was lovingly surrounded by her family and friends at the Vidas Hospice in Milan, Italy.
Julie was born on April 27, 1975, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Ron and Jean (Cowan) Troyer. She attended Hudson schools, graduating from Hudson High School in 1993. While in Junior High and High School Julie was involved with theater productions at the Phipps Center for the Arts Children’s Theater. Julie was a member of SKITSOS, a theater outreach group on teen issues. She was a member of the Chamber Choir and Swing Choir at HHS. Julie graduated from the University of Minnesota (BA,’97) and from University of St. Catherine (MEd,’02). She worked as an Elementary School teacher in St. Paul and Woodbury, MN. In 2005 Julie found her dream job teaching at the American School of Milan (ASM) in Milan, Italy. While teaching at the elementary level at ASM she also directed musical theater shows for the Upper Level School. Julie met the love of her life, Deneb Bucella, in Milan and they were married on May 28, 2011 in an Italian vineyard with her father, Ron Troyer, officiating. Julie loved her job working with children and was a devoted teacher to each child in her classroom. She also dearly loved being a mother to her children, Aaron and Penny. She fought the cancer valiantly because of her wish to be a part of their lives into adulthood.
Julie is survived by her husband, Deneb Bucella, and children, Aaron (age 5) and Penny (age 2) of Carpiano, Italy; her parents, Ron and Jean Troyer of Hudson, WI; and a brother, Dr. John (Gracia Redondo) Troyer of Bristol, England; as well as loving uncles, aunts, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Irma Cowan and Kenneth and Irene Troyer, and an uncle, Keith Troyer.
Services will be held in Milan, Italy for her Italian family and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held in Hudson at a later date. Memorials are preferred. Memorials will be used to support Aaron and Penny’s education at the American School of Milan. The family is deeply appreciative of the overwhelming love and respect shown by the ASM administration, faculty and staff, as well as her Italian and American friends who were there when Julie needed them the most. The Vidas Hospice doctors, nurses and staff provided comfort care to Julie that we will never forget. Our hearts are broken for now but Julie will always live on in the hearts of those who knew her.