Julia Therese Gebert

Jan 27, 2026

Julia Therese Gebert passed away unexpectedly due to complications during a medical procedure on Jan. 27, 2026, leaving behind a legacy far greater than her years. She was a beloved daughter, devoted sister, joyful advocate and radiant spirit whose life touched countless others.

Though Julia stood just 3 feet, 7 inches tall, Julia would always say with a smile, "I'm not short — I'm fun-sized!"

Blind from infancy, Julia met life with determination, humor and curiosity. Introduced to Braille as a toddler by her teachers, Andrea Story and MaryLee Miller, she quickly became a voracious reader. At just 3 years old, she touched her goosebumps on her mother's leg and asked, "Mama, what are these Braille letters doing here?" She often stayed up late reading Braille chapter books beneath the covers with no light — because she could.

Music was Julia's true love. A fiddle player and percussionist, she could recognize songs within only a note or two and loved singing a cappella with her brothers and making playlists for anyone interested.

She was an advocate for accessibility and inclusion and traveled to Washington, D.C., to support accessible textbooks for the visually impaired.

Julia had a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor—quick, playful and always perfectly timed. She delighted in jokes, riddles and silly noises. In one of her final moments with her father, Steve, she perfectly completed his lighthearted remark of "So, I have that going for me …" with, "… which is nice."

Julia is survived by her loving parents, Pamela and Steve Gebert; brothers, Samuel and Andrew Gebert; grandparents, G. Richard Hull, Teresa Hull, Patricia Andersson and Enar Andersson; stepmother, Kim Gebert; and stepbrothers, Gage and Cable Mercer; along with many extended family members and dear friends.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Julia on Aug. 1, 2026, at 11 a.m., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Anchorage.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Julia Gebert Technology Fund at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.