Juli Jones Riley, 63, of Port Charlotte, Florida, closed her eyes peacefully at home on September 3rd, 2021 surrounded and cared for by her loving Husband and Best Friend, “Riley” and their daughters Lucinda Riley Rempala, Lura Harley, Jessica (& Norvyn) Souter, and Sarah Harley. They have three grandchildren, Amanda (& Jordan) Ostromecki, Victoria (& Nick) Matter, and the apple of their eye, Emerson Ivey Souter.

The family had planned to celebrate with Mike and Juli as they renewed their wedding vows this November. Instead, they will be celebrating Juli’s life, Saturday, November 6th, 2021 starting at 4pm at Laishley Park. You are welcome to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets, a cooler and maybe a picnic basket for yourself (no glass bottles please) and enjoy the celebration of life with us.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider donating in Juli’s honor to charlottecountyimaginationLibrary.org organization. The Imagination Library sends books to children of Charlotte County every month until they turn the age of 5 and start kindergarten. Here are “just a few words” from her family:

Anyone who ever met Juli knows that she was the most kind, accepting, and beautiful woman on the planet. She lit up any room she entered with her gorgeous smile and incredible sense of humor. She had a truly one-of-a-kind ability to make any stranger feel comfortable by insulting them so lovingly and so directly that they couldn’t help but smile and laugh. She will truly be missed by all who got the privilege of knowing her. (Lura) Definition of Homie; member of one’s gang. When I first met Juli, Popop asked me what I wanted to call her and that’s what my response was, Homie. That’s exactly what Juli was, my homie. A member of my gang. You never know who can walk into your life and make such an impact on it. My world is a little dimmer without her but I can’t help but be thankful for all of the years I got to grow and learn with her. She’s an inspiration to so many, especially me. (Amanda) Without Juli, I wouldn’t have met my best friend and husband. Without Juli, I wouldn’t have seen my Popop happier than I’ve ever seen him. Without Juli, our family would not be what it is today. Without her gentle bullying growing up, I don’t think I ’d be who I am today and as strong without her. (Victoria) Juli, my sweet, beautiful Mama, has forever been the epitome of positivity and love. She taught us to see the good in everyone, as she did. Her smile lit up every room she walked into and her genuine love filled everyone’s heart. I will always hear her sweet voice say “Hi baby” and see her sweet smile. I will do my best to be the person she saw in me. She will always be my very best friend and we will love her and miss her so much. (Sarah) I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else than by her side. Thank you to all who shared memories with us, visited, supported her, and let us know that Juli was just as special to you as she was to us. Our hearts hurt missing that spunky attitude and laugh. I too loved her sweet “hi, baby” and the smile that came across her face when she saw you. She had a way of making people know they were instantly liked and special to the core. An Angel among us. (Lucinda) Juli, my sweet mom, will forever be my role model for inner strength and positivity. She never faltered in giving us her support and guidance, with no condition or judgment, and she always, always let us know how much she loves us. Emerson adores her JuGi and would tell her “you are tough, you are strong, and you are brave” and  I’ll be sure Emerson remembers her JuGi exactly that way. We will miss her and love her forever. (Jessi) From Riley I could hear Him calling her in the howling wind. The loud claps of thunder alerted the Angels to gather and make their sacred journey down to earth to cradle Juli’s spirit in their arms. The magnificent flashes of lightning  lit  the way and guided them to her lifeless body lifting up her spirit, taking her home. The clouds parted and the full moon smiled down upon her beautiful human form. She was ready to part this earth and join her loved ones in the house that our Lord Jesus had prepared for her. It was difficult for those on this earth, it was hard for them to understand why, but God had other plans for this Angel waiting for her wings. On this earth she was vibrant, her light shone bright as she gave of herself to others frequently and willingly. She was a child of God and He was calling her homecoming to his Kingdom. She fought a long and courageous battle in order to prepare her loved ones for her passing. She shared hope, strength, guidance and love with those who too faced this adversity. God saw the strong woman whose heart was that of a Lioness and whose gentle Soul was that of the Lamb. She gave of herself until there was nothing left to give yet she still charged on showing the way for those who followed. We are still here on this earth mourning the loss of our beloved Juli, not understanding why she was chosen to leave us. We cry and we miss her terribly every hour of every day, but we hear her sweet voice in the wind, her laughter in the leaves of the trees as they rustle in the breeze. We feel the warmth of her smile when the morning sun shines down on our faces. The tears she sheds for us fall from the heavens as gentle rain drops. When we look into the midnight sky missing her, wanting her back with us, we see the twinkle in her eyes as the stars in heaven above flicker from her to us. We feel her heartbeat in ours, her blood rushing through our veins and her soul comforting us in our times of sorrow. She visits us in songs that we love, she sends signs to let us know that she is still with us. We hear her voice in the night, but now it is the voice of the most beautiful Angel. She is the Owl that we sometimes see and hear in the woods calling out who to let us know she is watching over us. She comes to us in our dreams hovering over us sent by God to watch over us as we sleep. We were all truly blessed to have her in our lives as long as we did. She taught us to laugh, to live, to forgive and to be kind to those who surround us. We will never forget, she won’t ever let us forget as we all have a piece of her in our hearts and souls. The Angels are rejoicing as she journeys to our Lord’s home in the sky. Those she loved and who loved her are awaiting her arrival as Jesus comforts her in his arms and replaces her pain and suffering with a most beautiful set of wings. We miss her so much but we know when we look to the evening sky that it is her, the brightest shining star watching over us and loving us from above. Juli Jones Riley, you were everything to me. God blessed me and gave me twenty of the best years of my life to spend with you. Your Children and your Grandchildren will look to you for as long as they walk this earth and remember the unconditional love that you had for them. They will remember your big kind heart that you shared with them, your many many friends and your community that you loved so much. You certainly made your mark on this earth as you traveled throughout your life’s journey. You never met a stranger and you never missed an opportunity to help someone who was less fortunate than you and deserving. Your heart was true and your heart was pure. We will miss you and our hearts will ache for you as long as we walk this earth, but we all feel the beat of that small piece of your heart and soul that you left for each and every one of us to carry with us forever. I thank God for bringing you into my life and the lives of those I love. I thank God for every precious moment that we were given to be with you on this earth. God and your host of Angels, we thank you for taking Juli away from her pain and suffering, we give you thanks for opening the Gates of Heaven and giving her life everlasting in your Kingdom. Many, many tears are falling here on earth, many, many hearts are aching here on earth, but there is comfort knowing that you called this Angel home to be with you. Thank you Lord God for the precious days that you shared Juli’s beautiful heart and soul with us. Husband, Soul Mate, Best Friend, Lover, Riley.