Julie Berard Meier, 53

JULIE BERARD MEIER, 53, of Manassas, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, after a three year battle with ovarian cancer. 

Julie was born on May, 31, 1960, in Worcester, MA. She is the daughter of the late Roland Berard and Clara (Pescosolido) Berard. She attended Venerini Academy and was a graduate of Saint Peter Marian High School, Worcester, MA. Julie received a bachelor’s degree from Providence College, Providence, RI, and a Masters in International Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, AZ. 

Julie lived her life to the fullest and was greatly loved by her family and friends. Julie loved music and studied opera. She performed many weddings and funerals growing up in Worcester. During college, she spent a year abroad studying French at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. After graduating from Thunderbird, she spent three years living in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where she taught herself to speak Mandarin Chinese. Upon her marriage to Michael, Julie worked in a variety of jobs, but was primarily focused on taking care of her family and devoting her time to her daughter, Isabella. She loved to travel around the world, talk politics, and read, but her greatest love was horses, which she shared with Isabella. She was thrilled in her later life to be able to finally own and care for her own horse, Rocky, who she rescued from certain death in Colorado. Together, they went on a six year journey of loving and caring for each other. 

She is survived by her husband, Michael Wayne Meier, and her daughter, Isabella Maria Meier, who also reside in Manassas. Julie is also survived by her sister, Donna Berard Peacott, of Worcester, MA, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Sunday, April 6, 2014 at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 5:00PM Monday, April 7, 2014 at All Saints Catholic Church, 9300 Stonewall Road, Manassas, VA with Father Juan Puigbo officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, Julie would ask you make a donation to her favorite charity, Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue, Mount Airy MD 21771. gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.com/