Read the obituaries for 5-year-old Jaxon Lawrence and his grandmother, Julie, who tried to save him from drowning
The tragedy that claimed the lives of the grandmother and her grandson occurred at Lake Lowell in Londonderry, Vermont.
A New England family is mourning the loss of two of its members this weekend.
Julie Lawrence drowned trying to rescue her grandson at Lake Lowell in Londonderry, Vermont, on July 22. The 5-year-old boy, Jaxon Lawrence, died two days later from injuries he sustained in the accident.
Both grandmother and grandson shared a love for the outdoors, relatives said in their obituaries.
“Julie had a great sense of humor and brought joy wherever she went,” the 56-year-old woman’s family wrote in her obituary. “She made lifelong friends around the world, her reach was far and wide. Julie was a blessing and will be missed by all who knew her.”
“Jaxon had an amazing capacity for love and an infectious smile and beautiful presence that absolutely impacted everyone he met,” the boy’s family wrote. “Everyone he knew, even if only for moments, received a goodbye hug, often times, several. He was a brilliant and shining beacon of love and happiness.”
Read their obituaries below:
Jaxon Lawrence
Jaxon Leo Lawrence, born Oct. 31, 2012, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, after sustaining grave injury in a terrible accident at Lake Lowell in Londonderry, Vermont, with his paternal grandmother, Julie Wojtkowski Lawrence, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in a heroic effort to save him.
Jaxon will be so missed by his parents – mother Jessica Austin and father Jacob Lawrence; his brothers Bryson Lawrence and Adyn Shull, and his sister, Ava Shull; his paternal grandparents Brian Lawrence, Steve and Constance Korzun; his maternal grandmother, Brenda Lanfear, and grandfather, Dan Pinkowski. He was predeceased by grandfather Burton Austin. He will be dearly missed by a wealth of great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and dear friends, all a part of Jaxon’s close and passionately loving family, and a school community who adored him.
Jaxon had recently finished his second year in preschool and was soon to start life as a kindergartner at Shrewsbury Mountain School where everyone there was his best friend. Jaxon had an amazing capacity for love and an infectious smile and beautiful presence that absolutely impacted everyone he met. Everyone he knew, even if only for moments, received a goodbye hug, often times, several. He was a brilliant and shining beacon of love and happiness.
He loved to get dirty and play outdoors, play rough with his brothers and create projects with his sister, pizza in bed for movie night snuggles with Mom and Dad. He was always very aware of the emotions of the people around him and at just five years old, it was important to him that they know he cares, and wanted them to be happy. Jaxon will be remembered with the same endless and unconditional love he gave to so many people.
A small and private ceremony will be held for family on Sunday, July 29, at 12 p.m. The family invites hearts big and small to a celebration of life to be held at Shrewsbury Mountain School from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (C.H.A.D.) in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home in Rutland.
Julie Lawrence
Julie Marie Wojtkowski Lawrence, 56, of Manchester, VT, died tragically on Friday, July 20, 2018 at Lowell Lake in Londonderry, VT. She drowned trying to rescue her five year old grandson, Jaxon Leo Lawrence. Jaxon passed away two days later surrounded by his family. Julie was born in Pittsfield, MA to Conrad Wojtkowski Sr. and Frances Clement on April 30, 1962. Julie graduated from Taconic High School in 1980 and continued her education at Boston College. During her junior year at Boston College, Julie joined the Army’s ROTC Program. After graduating, she enlisted in the Army, trained in nursing, and made the rank of Captain. In 1988 she was honorably discharged. Julie and her first husband, Robert Rhodes, who was still in the Army, raised their family around the world.
In 2002, Julie settled in Vermont and continued her nursing career at Rutland Regional Medical Center. During her time at RRMC, Julie worked as an RN in the ICU, PCU, Emergency Department, and most recently, Diagnostic Imaging. In 2014, Julie met the love of her life, Brian Lawrence, and the two married on July 11, 2015. Together, Julie and Brian enjoyed rides on their motorcycle, stopping at flea markets, visiting friends and exploring Vermont and beyond. They took pleasure in camping with family and friends, making memories around the campfire.
Julie was a very active person and loved the outdoors. Hiking and snowshoeing with her dogs, kayaking in the summer, and skiing seriously fast in the winter were some of her favorite past times. Julie was always up for an adventure, never deterred by weather conditions. She was definitely tougher than most. Julie was an all-around talented person. She enjoyed creating hand painted wooden crafts, and most recently, she had learned the craft of fused glass. Julie made beautiful jewelry, dishes, frames, and night lights sharing them with family and friends. She was an avid baker/pie maker, filling many bellies and many hearts. For the past 16 years, Julie participated in a book club, reading every book. Julie had a great sense of humor and brought joy wherever she went. She made lifelong friends around the world, her reach was far and wide. Julie was a blessing and will be missed by all who knew her.
Julie was predeceased by her son, Gregory Joseph Rhodes, on October 28, 1994; a brother, Conrad R. Wojtkowski Jr., on November 11, 2016; her mother-in-law, Helen J. Lawrence, on June 3, 2017; and a nephew, Nicholas M. Wojtkowski, on April 13, 2018. Julie is survived by her parents, Conrad and Frances Wojtkowski; her beloved husband, Brian Lawrence; her father-in-law, Leo E. Lawrence; her children, Steven, Christopher, and Matthew Rhodes and Jacob and Brittany Lawrence; her grandchildren, Bryson, Carter, Noah, Aiden, and Ava; her siblings, Michael Wojtkowski (Debra), Lisa A. Brown (Jeffrey), Victoria W. Johnson (Chris); her nieces, Michelle Bartels (Alex), Audrey Wojtkowski, Freja Wojtkowski; nephews, Corey Bassett, Adrien Wojtkowski (Julia), Odin and Wrex Wojtkowski; great nieces, Madelyn Bartels and Sydney Wojtkowski.
A celebration of Julie’s life will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, 34 Park Place, Manchester Center, VT. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be held Friday, July 27, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. If friends desire, memorial gifts in Julie’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885 Manchester Center, VT 05255. The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, 34 Park Place, Manchester Center, VT.
