Julia Warren

Julia Elizabeth Warren, 40, died Jan. 26 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston with family and friends by her side after living with ovarian cancer for two years. During her illness, Julia continued to build her career, took up golf, traveled, enjoyed time with friends and spoiled her beloved dog, Henry. She is survived by her mother, Nancy, sister Madeleine, Uncle Bill and Aunt Gwyne Shore, and cousins Edward and Nicholas Shore. She is predeceased by her father, Douglass, who died in 2002.

Julia was born in Houston and proudly wore her Longhorns cap often. She grew up in Hopkinton and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2005. She worked as an executive assistant to the CFO at Indigo Ag, Bain Capital Crypto and, most recently, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge. Her boss at Alnylam described her as the best executive assistant he’s worked with in his 30-year career. Julia’s attention to detail was well known and earned her the trust of friends and colleagues. Her facility with logistics and spreadsheets likely was inherited from her father.

Over the years, Julia took time to travel to Italy, France, England, the Netherlands, Monaco, Costa Rica, India and Vietnam. She loved to drive, and road-tripped to Kentucky four years ago to purchase a puppy she named Henry. He brought her endless joy and made her, in her words, “the mom I always knew I was meant to be.”

Julia accepted her diagnosis with a positive attitude and her indomitable sense of humor. Cancer did not stop her from living. She didn’t dwell on or complain about the difficulties she experienced along the way. “I never had a bad day with Julia,” said one friend. She maintained close friendships with people from kindergarten into adulthood while adding new friends everywhere she went. She was described by many as the life of the party and someone who could light up a room.

A celebration of Julia’s life will take place this spring. Donations to support ovarian cancer research in honor of Julia may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute under the direction of Ursula Matulonis, M.D., at dana-farber.org/gift (select “Ovarian Cancer” under “Women’s Cancers”) or by mail at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

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