Juliana Kathleen Bretz Whitten

Juliana Kathleen Bretz Whitten, born December 24, 1932 in Bretzville, Indiana, passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018 at her home in Versailles, Kentucky with three of her seven children by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ludwig John and Louanna Studer Bretz, her brothers James Edward and Jerald John Bretz and her husband of 62 years, Thomas K. Whitten.

"Julie" was an incredibly strong woman of God who dedicated her love and life to her husband, children and grandchildren. Wherever she went, she always became a special friend and confidant to those around her. Those who knew Julie, know she was, in the words of one of her former choir members, "a very special lady" and that she touched the lives of many through her gift of music. She gave her love of and talent for music to lead many choirs to sing His praises. From the moment she and Patsy Van Meter timidly volunteered to take on the children's choir at Immaculate Church, she felt she was on a spiritual journey, one that spanned many years, singing and playing songs and hymns of praise, thanksgiving, love and joy. She encouraged many others, young, old and in between to join them to spread the word with joy through music. She asked God, when she died, to take her in his arms and give her love, joy, peace and happiness and her good singing voice so that she could sing His praises with the angels for all eternity. She has now run to Jesus and we believe she is doing just that.

She is survived by her seven children, Debra Ann Martin (Rick) of Owensboro, KY; Mary Anne Mountain (Mike), also of Owensboro; Maureen Mischel McDonald (Brian) of Versailles, KY; Dr. Thomas Mitchel Whitten (Brooke) of Noblesville, IN; James Robert Whitten (Tracy) of Nicholasville, KY; Allison Kathleen Seymore (Jeff) of Princeton, KY; and Dr. Michael Edward Whitten (Kate) of Shelbyville, KY; twenty-five grandchildren, William Michael Fry, Jr., Owensboro, KY; Mathew Todd Jones (Lisa), Pittsburg, PA; Chelsea Anne Zingg (Trey Smith), Owensboro; Hannah Christine Zingg, Las Vegas, NV; McKenzie Jo Cordell, Lubbock, TX; McCabe Mitchel Cordell, Versailles, KY; Madelyn Grace McDonald, Versailles, KY; Sydney Mischel, Michael Trent, Bren Erin, Sarah Faith, Thomas James, Sophia Grace, Annamarie Paige, Sue Ann Teresa and Juliana Hope Whitten, all of Noblesville, IN; Ethan James Whitten (Lauren), Lexington, KY; Evanne Paige Whitten, Nicholasville, KY; Trey Thomas Whitten, Lexington, KY; James Garrett Goff (Jennifer), Lexington, KY; Haley Kathleen Rogers (Brody), Fredonia, KY; Brett Michael Seymore, Lexington, KY; Alexander Thomas, Camilla Elizabeth and Dusty Thomas Whitten, all of Shelbyville, KY; nine great-grandchildren, Natalie Anne Padgett and Noelle Christine Smith, Owensboro, KY; Annabella Rosaline Eakins, Cassius Marcellus and Silas George Jones, all of Pittsburgh, PA; Camden James and Aiden Thomas Whitten, Lexington, KY; Juliette Marie Goff, Lexington, KY, and James Byron Rogers, Fredonia, KY.

A funeral mass will be 10:00 am Saturday July 21 at Immaculate Catholic Church with Father Tony Jones officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 till 7:00 pm with prayers at 6:30 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate or 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.