Julia Lee Lane McCahill - Obituary

ulia Lee Lane McCahill of Riva, MD passed away on September 25, 2026. She was 87 years old. She was born on July 17, 1939 in Olney, MD to the late John and Winifred Lane. She was a writer, thinker, philosopher, theologian, and a scholar, reading and reflecting on an extensive assortment of authors and topics. A creative and prayerful woman of deep conviction, Julia wrote and published books of family history, poetry and musings. Daringly, she homeschooled her children when there was little public support for that practice, returned to college to study theology while in her late 50s, and served with grace and aplomb as the music director for a family choir for many years. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University from Spokane, WA, then a Master of Theology from Ecumenical Institute of Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. Before her marriage, she taught high school history at Palotti High School in Laurel, MD. She would then excel at raising her family, serving as a dedicated military wife during her husband’s 20 active duty years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. She successfully maintained a household in Spain and London during that time, including during her husband’s 2 years of service in Vietnam. Julia was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, MD where she founded and taught for many years in a Bible study program, and sang in the choir for 25 years. She lived her life with a persistent awareness of the extraordinary wonder and awe our world and this life can provide. All who knew her held her in genuine esteem and respect. Indeed, we counted ourselves fortunate to be in dialogue with the petite deep-thinker with her radiant smile and lively sense of humor. Along with her parents, she is predeceased by her brother, Michael and her sister, Sharon. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Dennis McCahill of Riva, MD, son Michael McCahill of Seattle, WA, son Sean McCahill of Baltimore, MD, son Kevin McCahill of Knoxville, TN, daughter Colleen McCahill of Baltimore, MD, grandchildren Conor Hyatt (Reiko Arai) of New York, NY, Eamon Hyatt of Baltimore, MD, Theo Hyatt of Baltimore, MD, Molly Hyatt (Joey Vives) of Baltimore, MD, Mel McCahill of Seattle, WA, Tony McCahill of San Francisco, CA, and Sofia Falcone of Baltimore, MD, brother John of Westminster, MD, sister Terre of San Diego, CA, and sister Mary of Columbia, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, October 2 at 5 PM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W Central Ave Davidsonville, MD 21035. Reception to follow. Inurnment will be private at a later date. Online condolences may be made by visiting the Memories tab on this page.