Julianna Audrey Witter, 20, of Santa Cruz, California who studied at California State University, Chico and was a bright light and a brilliant soul, passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, December 8, 2025 at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, the same place that her father was born 50 years earlier.

She was born on June 14, 2005 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California on her mother’s 29th birthday. She was the best birthday present her mother ever received. She lived 20 years with a kind soul and a caring spirit that touched everyone who knew her. She was a superfeeler and a friend to all animals and humans, walking through this world with a deep, quiet desire to make a lasting difference.

She was a young woman of profound depth and purpose. She observed the world with a quiet wisdom, often choosing to listen and reflect. When she did speak—and when she wrote—her words were thoughtful, discerning, and powerful. A gifted writer and photographer, she had won awards and many compliments from those lucky enough to read her writings and enjoy her photos.

Her compassion extended to all creatures. A fierce advocate for animal rights, she was especially diligent about caring for her beloved miniature poodle, Maple and her two guinea pigs, Aspen and Nova.

She was accepted into California State University, Chico where she went on to study at the University Farm and where she attended for 3 school years. She loved to learn and often took additional classes over the winter and summer breaks. She enjoyed being able to walk all over the town of Chico. She really enjoyed her professors and her peers and the slower pace of Chico. Her spirit lives on through the family and friends who loved her beyond measure.

She enjoyed working at the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, California and at the WREC, the University gym, up in Chico, CA.

She is survived by her mother and father, Carol Lee Witter and Eric Witter of Santa Cruz, California; younger sister, Kyla Lee; grandmothers Eileen Perkins of Half Moon Bay, CA and Julia Witter, her namesake, of Santa Clarita, CA; eight first cousins; three aunts, Katherine Worhunsky, Mardi Wooster and Krista Witter; three uncles, T.R. Wooster, Peter Worhunsky and Gordon Witter; and was predeceased by her grandfathers, George Perkins of Sun City, Arizona and Larry Witter of Santa Clarita, CA.

Those who wish to honor Julianna’s memory can, above all else, be kind to others and to all animals.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to a cause and place she loved or to the place that her mother will now do her advocacy work in Julianna’s memory:

The Gentle Barn of Santa Clarita, CA https://www.gentlebarn.org/

Eating Disorder Resource Center: https://edrcsv.org/