GILFORD --- Julie Ann Sottak (nee Harris), beloved wife of the late Paul E. Sottak, of Gilford, New Hampshire, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA, after a heroic month-long battle with a blood infection.
Julie was born in Brookline, MA, on March 22, 1968, and grew up in Wellesley, MA. After graduating from Wellesley High School in 1986, she attended college in New Hampshire and Vermont before finding her calling and graduating from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 1998 as a Registered Nurse. She worked at the Concord-Lakes Regional Hospital in many departments but most recently in Interventional Radiology.
Julie will be remembered for her ready smile, quick wit and attentiveness to those in her care. Julie was a phenomenal cook that could whip up a meal with ease and grace. She’ll be remembered for her chicken cordon bleu, pineapple pie and yummy guacamole. You could often find her nose in a cooking magazine or cookbook looking for a new recipe to try. Traveling was a big part of her life. She visited Puerto Vallarta yearly and loved visiting the local restaurants. What she loved most, however, was spending time with those she loved, her family and friends.
Julie is survived by her parents, John (Jack) and Ann Harris, of Fredericksburg, VA; brother Peter M. Harris (Dana), of Virginia Beach, VA; sister Laura A. Walsh (John), of LaGrange, IL; and brother John G. Harris III, of Alexandria, VA. Julie was the proud and fun-loving Aunt to Caitlin (Adam Loritz), Jack and Matthew Walsh, of Chicago, IL, Payton, Paige, Brooke and Benjamin Harris, of Virginia Beach, VA, Wiley, Liam and Lillian Harris, of Alexandria, VA. Julie was the greatest great-aunt to Charlie Loritz. She may not have birthed children of her own, but she had nieces, nephews and godchildren that held a very special place in her heart. Caitlin Loritz, her goddaughter, and Jeffrey Joyce, her godson, were more like her own children than godchildren. She was the loving caretaker to her two fur babies, Piper and Mick, and to her special fur baby “Bunny,” who Julie still missed daily.
Julie’s family is forever grateful for all the love and support we have been shown over the last several weeks: the hospital visits, phone calls and texts, the care of Julie’s fur babies and gardening at her home, mowing of her lawn and taking in the mail. Thank you to the doctors and nurses at Concord Hospital and Mass General Hospital, who did everything in their power to save Julie and treated her with dignity and respect. Thank you to the Sottak Family for being a friend to Julie, even after your brother/father/uncle had passed. We would especially like to thank her long-time friend, Paula Phillips, for always being at Julie’s side.
Calling Hours will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andre Bessette Parish-Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave, Laconia, NH.
Burial will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, NH.
In lieu of flowers, Julie’s wishes were for donations to go to The Jeffrey Joyce Education Fund, for her Godson, set up at Bank of New Hampshire, 62 Pleasant St, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.