Julieann Sage Obituary (1952 - 2024) - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Julie’s spirit left her body while staying in Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods. She was grateful for the wonderful care she received by the competent and passionate staff. She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Helen VanDellen. Survivors include her life long best friend and husband, Charlie; sisters, Laurie (Eli) Bradley, Diane (Joe) Belbot, Debbie (Joel) DeBoer, Kathleen (Mort) Harwood and LaVonne (Paul) Worster. Julie & Charlie were married on 1/26/74. In 1981, they formed Sage Upholstery together and spent the next 42 years doing what they mostly loved. She was a very accomplished upholstery sewer and seamstress. They officially retired on 9/1/22. Julie’s first cancer was discovered around Memorial Day weekend in 2014. Thinking her time was very short, they bought a used motorhome in the spring of 2017 and traveled to every state in the continental U.S. except Alaska and South Carolina over the next 6 years. This occurred in between treatment for a broken femur and 7 cancers. Up until the very end, she remained as positive as possible, kept a sense of humor and never expressed feeling sorry for herself. “I’ve lived a long life, there are children living with this.” She was grateful for every single day. Baking delicious desserts, creating different forms of art and folk art and giving it away brought her much joy. Her painted stones were spread around the country while they were on their trips. She has donated her body to the University of Michigan Medical School and it will be cremated in 2 years. A celebration of her life will occur in May. She was happy that she would never have to hear another word from or about the Orange Bloviator. Vote blue!