SIOUX CITY JOURNAL ARTICLE, April 1, 2013

On the surface, it may have appeared that Juliann "Julie" Pendergast died alone.

An only child. Parents deceased. Divorced. No children.

Classmates from the Bishop Heelan High School Class of 1968 made sure that was not the case, raising enough money to pay for her burial and a memorial marker. They attended a graveside service for her.

Fellow Crusader Linda Massey received a phone call about Pendergast's March 9 death from Kelly Shellhammer, a mutual friend of both women.

"I grew up with Julie, went to Blessed Sacrament and Heelan," Massey said. "Our paths crossed again about 10 years ago and we became reacquainted."

Massey, owner of Rick & Company Salon & Spa, was Pendergast's cosmetologist for quite some time; then, circumstances changed and the two lost contact.

"When Kelly called, I was saddened, but she also told me that Julie had been cremated and her remains were at Christy-Smith Funeral Home and there was not enough money to bury her," she said. "Kelly suggested a fundraiser, but she just wasn't sure what avenue to take."

Massey called the funeral home to get more information and decided to spearhead a fundraiser on her own.

"I did a post on Facebook asking the Heelan Class of '68 to help me get Julie buried in her mother's grave," she said.

In four days the classmates responded with enough money for the burial, Massey reported.

"That left the cost of the headstone," she said. "I explained how much we had raised, the cost of the headstone and how much more money was needed. The money poured in."

Massey posted on Facebook: "You can all sleep a little better tonight knowing we have laid Julie Pendergast to rest! You are all so amazing! Julie would be so pleased to know how cared about she was! God love and bless all of you!"

Classmates, friends and co-workers gathered March 27 for the 1 p.m. graveside service at Calvary Cemetery.

Deacon Fred Karpuk, another classmate, officiated at the service for the 64-year-old Pendergast.