Julie Rifkin Obituary

Julie,

I did not know you that well, but the few times we saw each other were priceless. I hope you have found the peace you were looking for.



Don,

Please, if you EVER need anything don't hesitate to contact me. You are always in my prayers.

Don,



My heart and prayers are with you on the lost of Julie and your boys. I was a friend of Julie in High School. Julie had a loving heart that brought joy to many people. I hope that message of joy and love will continue in her memory.

Donald, as a co-worker and friends of Margaret, my wife and I were very saddened by your loss. We hope that it's helpful to have your supportive church family around you now. We've been praying here at our church in Washington DC for you and all of your family, that the Lord may bring you His peace and healing.

Don,

I met Julie at The Hartford Insurance in San Antonio where we worked together. Julie was a very caring and hard working individual and I remember her always making people laugh. When she left Hartford, I heard she had married sometime later and had children whom I never got the chance to meet. Their photos show happy boys and they both have Julie's beautiful smile. I was saddened to hear of your loss and my prayers are with you.

To my Dear Aunt Julie,



What a wonderful Aunt she was to my family and I! She and the boys will be greatly missed! Aunt Julie always made sure we kept our eyes fixed on the Lord and cared for our well-being! Uncle Don, you will be in our prayers! Such a beautiful funeral to bring a better ending to these lives! I love you and will miss you!

Donald - I am so sorry to learn of the tragic deaths of your family.



It is good to know that you are supported by Christian friends who will pray for and support you. I have continued to remember you and your family in my prayers.



May the peace of our saviour Jesus Christ remain with you now and in the days to come.

Don, when you shared that Julie referred to Gabe and Nathan as 'your kids' when they were naughty, and 'her kids' when they were good, I had to smile. It perfectly described her rib-poking kind of humor, and the pride she had in your well-behaved boys. From the first conversation I remember having one-on-one with Julie, I've always thought of her as a fiercely protective mom… that if anyone should try to hurt her boys, they were gonna have to go through HER first. We all remember similar things about Julie… her involvement in the classrooms, in the office, and wherever help was needed at school; her fastidiousness, her punctuality, her humor, her energy, her fun. I saw in Julie strong character, loyalty, and love. I admired the strengths she possessed and that I lacked, but I don't think I ever told her. You encouraged dads to hug their families daily, for we are not promised tomorrow…I will take your advice and apply it also to the people whose paths cross mine.



We have a limitless God, and He is doing an amazing work of grace in you, Don. You blessed us all today as we gathered to say 'goodbye for now'; in your weakness, His strength is made perfect. Thank you for sharing with us some of your tender memories of your family. I cannot truly imagine the extent of your grief, but appreciate your unselfishness in letting us share it.



Continuing to pray for you in the days ahead.

I pray you are at peace, Julie.



Don, we are praying for you.

Don,I only met Julie once at New Life but I just wanted to let you know that our thoughts & prayers are with you in your loss. May God comfort you in this tragedy. I know that what Satan meant for evil God will turn around for good. May HIS peace & comfort surround you. God Bless you!

Don, it has been a few years since we have been in touch, but I saw Julie and the boys last summer. Of course, she was at the store buying scool supplies for children who couldn't afford them! That is how I will remember her, always giving to others. My heart is very heavy with sadness and I just want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. My boys, Mike and Luke, surely enjoyed playing soccer with your boys. I always looked forward to seeing Julie at the games, and joking with her. She had a great sense of humor, and I appreciated that. I am sorry I didn't realize the struggles she was having. I hope you are able to continue to be the strong person who coached my boys, and who taught them values along with the rules of soccer. Nathan and Gabriel were perfect examples of good sportsmen on and off the field. You can be proud. Once again, we are thinking of you.



JoAnn, Hank, Mike and Luke Schmitt

You know you have our sympathy, our prayers and our love, Don, and for all the family. I believe in God's limitless forgiveness, so Jules must now be at peace. I hope and pray that you will soon find “peace of heart” and you will one day somehow come to understand His, now unfathomable, plan for you. Our love to you all.

Don,

I cannot even begin to imagine what you may be experiencing at this time. I can only think it is a mixture of emotions that are still yet to come.



I would like you to know that there are many people praying for you at my church. We will be lifting you up to our Father and asking him to surround you with his loving embrace. All things do work for the good to those who are called according to his purpose. You are called to his purpose and he can bring good out of the trials. I am sure it might be hard to see that now. I will pray for God to reveal his plan to you.



I am deeply sorry and my heart is breaking at this news. Please!!!! let me know how I can help you and how I can pray for you. We are here if you need us.



For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13



With Deepest Regrets!

Melanie, Tommy, and Ella Waltz

Julie:



May you rest in peace, with your beautiful boys. You are all in my heart and prayers.



Beth

Heartbroken is the simplest word to use for such a tragedy. Tears flow when thoughts of the pain this has caused you and your loved ones. Though I never met your children or wife, all indications are that the world has lost three miraculous souls that can not be replaced. I can not imagine knowing what loss you are feeling. I can only offer my thoughts and prayers. Be strong in knowing that Jesus is seeing to the care of those that are missed but still loved.

Julie,

I'm sad you won't be able to play softball with us this year. You were a great teammate. Thank you for trusting us and becoming our friend.

Don,

Thank you for bringing pictures to ABCC and attending Wednesday night. It was nice to hear you talk about your guys. I'm sorry for your loss. May our LORD hear your prayers and bring your vision to fruition. May His love heal your wounds.

Julie is a friend of the family. The last time I saw Julie was when she was a teen-ager. Every Easter, we would go to thier river cabin in New Braunsfels.She was a quite and a respectful person. Always smiling. My heart is saddened that this has happened. Only GOD knows. I pray that GOD has her and her boys in his arms.

Donald: You are in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time. Know that your friends and co-workers are here for you. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hestitate to ask. In deepest sympathy, Amy and Dean

I do not know anyone in the family, but my heart goes out to you in this time of sorrow. God bless.

Julie,

I wish you would have opened up to me as your boys did sometimes. God has a plan I know and even in these hard days I realize God is in control. I never got to thank you for being so good to my big guys. Dain will miss your rides to school and TJ will miss your talks. Joey and Darren will miss your snacks and friendly face at the cafe. I pray you made it were you prayed to be. Thanks for sharing your family with me.Your boys have touched my heart and I will never forget them.

Don:



My wife and I offer our deepest sympathy to you on the loss of Julie and the boys. As you probably know, we knew Julie since she was a student at Holmes High School here in San Antonio. She always was at our house, even baby sitting our youngest child then. We wish she could have called us for advice or anything. We are feeling your pain. My God help you.



Jose & Margaret Del Prado

Don,



Everytime I think of your pain, I'll be praying for God's grace and favor over your life. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this, but know that His plan for you remains. Let me know if there's anything I can do, or if you just want to talk soon or on down the road.

Julie,

You will be missed greatly. You did so much for Austin Bluffs Community Church. Thank you. See you in Heaven.

Don, my deepest, heartfelt prayers are going out to you on the loss of Julie, Gabriel and Nathan. In my prayers, I echo the sentiments of Paul who wrote in Second Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."



Blessings, grace and peace be yours, Don.

God Bless you in your time of grief. I pray the Lord will wrap his arms around you and bring you comfort. Know that even though we don't know you personally you are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you.

Julie was a friend of mine and I so wish I had been able to help her in her time of need. I will remember her laugh. The boys were gifts. I hope we are able to save others from a similar tragedy when they also cry for help.

Don,



I hope that God will heal the sorrow and pain you are feeling at this time. You have so many wonderful memories of your time with Julie and they boys. I will forever remember those soccer games with Gabe running down the field, Nate supporting the team from the sidelines and Julie supporting all the kids on the team like they were her own. I pray for you and pray for your heart to be healed. God bless.

Don,

My prayers are with you in this time of great sorrow.

Phil harris

I met Julie in 1997, she was a volunteer at Stephens & Associates. She was an awesome lady who was very kind and giving. She loved life and her kids were her life.