Julia McCormack was born on 28 April 1890, the second child of Mary Jane McDermott and John McCormack of Carrowkeel. She had one older sibling, Thomas and five younger ones, John, James, Edward, Catherine (Kate), and Annie Jane (Nan). She was named for her maternal grandmother, Julia McDermott, who died on the same day she was born two years before.
Julia grew up in a three roomed stone walled house with a thatched roof and three front windows. The McCormacks lived beside the Lynch family (possible cousins) who they were close with growing up. They also spent a lot of time with their maternal Kennedy cousins from Tanseyfield. Julia attended Drummullin National School, and was fluent in Irish.
Her mother, Mary Jane died on 6 June 1897 when she was seven years old. This would have been particularly hard for Julia, who had to become like a mother for her younger siblings. Her father John died in July 1902 when she was just twelve. Julia, Kate and Nan were taken in by the Sisters of Mercy in Roscommon, while their brothers lived with relatives in Carrowkeel. Each left the orphanage around the age of fifteen and returned to live at home. Julia's brother John died 8 March 1910, aged nineteen.
Julia's cousin Katie Kennedy emigrated to New York and was soon followed by her brother John. They invited Julia to join them. She departed Ireland from Queenstown, Cork on the Baltic on 26 Apr 1912, and arrived in New York on 5 May 1912. Her occupation is given as a domestic servant. She was five foot five inches, with fair hair and hazel eyes. She had paid her own passage and had fifteen pounds. Julia was later naturalized on 6 December 1924 at Supreme Court, New York.
She lived with her cousins at 322 East 42nd Street, but by 1913 was living at 157 East 31st Street. She was in the School of Nursing in New York City Hospital by 1916. She lived with her siblings James and Kate, who had followed her out. Julia sent back money to Thomas at home which helped him expand his farm. Nan joined her family in America in October 1916.
Julia had a very successful career as a nurse in a private hospital in New York. She married Frank Donner on 24 June 1936. They had no children.
Julia made a trip to Ireland in 1947, departing New York on 9 July. She departed again from Cobh on 6 September 1947 and arrived back in New York on 11 September. Frank accompanied her on her trip. At the time, they lived at 60-15 Woodside Avenue, Long Island, New York.
Julia died in April 1966 in Flushing, Queens, New York.
