Juliette Marie Zaengle, Esquire, left this world on October 2, 2026, in the most unlikely way for her, quietly. After a fierce 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Julie passed away peacefully at her home in Wallingford, surrounded by loved ones; she was 52.

Knowing Julie was to love her. She was one of the funniest, silliest, smartest, and most sarcastic people you would ever have the joy of meeting. Julie was a fierce social justice warrior, a proud Democrat, a lover of law, politics, and a great argument.

Julie and her family spent time in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois during her childhood, eventually settling in Berwyn in 1987. Julie attended school in the TE School District, where she met her amazing group of lifelong friends. She graduated from Conestoga High School in 1991.

After high school, she attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned a BA in Political Science in 1996. Pitt was an incredibly special place for her. She played trombone in the Pitt Marching Band, just as she had in high school, was a member of the band fraternity IBK, and came to love all things Pittsburgh. She later returned to Pitt for Law School and graduated with her JD in 2001.

Just as her legal career was beginning, Julie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which made every trip, fall, and sprained ankle make much more sense to everyone around her. She joined the National MS Society in 2001 and supported others living with the disease through speaking engagements and one-on-one conversations in the community.

Despite her MS, Julie started her career in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, where she became an assistant public defender and a champion of the underdog. She was in her best element fighting for juveniles. This work let her marry her love of civil rights, her instinct to fight for those less advantaged, and her gift for arguing professionally. She later worked at Fulton Bank and the Lancaster Public Defender's Office. Julie championed LGBTQ rights, believed in a democracy that protects its minority populations, and showed up for any friend or family member who needed legal advice. She never judged a single client or friend in need of help.

Julie worked hard to get and stay strong and healthy, was available to anyone who needed help, and inspired many people to start their own health journeys by leading by example. Julie loved traveling with friends and family, exploring new places, and meeting new people. With her uncanny humor, she would recruit travel companions by advertising the perks of traveling with someone with a disability.

After her pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2025, Julie decided to live life to the fullest. She traveled more and embraced life with even bigger passion than before, which is saying something. Her sense of humor kept her with us far beyond any doctor's expectations. Her joy, and the joy she brought to those around her, gave her 19 more months with everyone she loved.

She is dearly missed by her family and by her devoted friends, some of whom she’s known for nearly 40 years. Julie's friends and family were everything to her, and we are grateful to have had her beautiful, inspirational light with us for as long as we did.

Julie was preceded in death by her mother, Marie Weaver Kradel. She is survived by her father, Frederick Zaengle (Kate); step-siblings, Calvin (Allie) and Claire Linder; her sister, Jennifer Pohlhaus (William); nibling, Seda; and niece, Sage. She also leaves behind her stepfather, Rodger Kradel; step-siblings Steven Kradel (Rachel Mauro Puccio) and Marybeth Kradel-Weitzel (Jason); step-nephews Penn and Orson; and, most of all, her beloved dog, Charlie.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Julie's life on Tuesday, October 13th at Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home. There will be a visitation from 10-11 am followed by a service at 11 am.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider honoring Julie’s memory with a gift to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (nationalmssociety.org) or by supporting senior dogs through a donation to the Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland (seniordogsanctuary.com).