Tutak family ‘overwhelmed’
The body of a Peterborough mother who died in Australia in March is coming home after family, friends and strangers donated the funds to make it possible.
Julie Tutak’s body was found on a remote beach off Australia on March 24, along with the body of her friend, Kurt Butler, 39, whom she was visiting.
Australian police ruled the deaths to be non-suspicious after an autopsy.
Tutak had two children, Kayla, 15, and Kurtis, 12, Baddeley and was a personal support worker at Fairhaven.
Her family was told by an Australian funeral home it would cost about $12,000 to get to her body home to Canada.
On March 31, Tutak’s sister-inlaw Janel Tutak set up a GoFundMe page (Bring Julie Home) to collect funds to help the family bring her home.
In just three days, more than $13,000 was raised by 136 people.
By Thursday afternoon, the sum was more than $16,000.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Janel Tutak said. “I can’t believe how quickly we reached our goal and just the support and love we’ve had from people.”
Any addition funds garnered above the transportation cost will help cover Julie’s funeral and go into a fund for her two children.
“All of it is going towards the kids and helping them to get closure to get their mom’s body back,” Tutak said over the phone from her home in Newcastle.
Tutak family members recognize many of the names who’ve contributed, but there are also some names the Tutak’s don’t know – likely strangers with a big heart.
“I’m just amazed,” said Tutak. A celebration of life will be planned for Julie, 38, in the near future.
The Tutaks were told it could take up to four weeks for her body to get home.
“We’re kind of on hold, unfortunately, right now,” Tutak said of arranging the celebration.
Julie was raised in Bowmanville and moved to Peterborough about 16 years ago.
Her celebration will take place in Peterborough, so it’s easier for her friends and children’s friends to attend.
Kayla and Kurtis’s friends from school and sports teams looked at Julie as a mother figure, Tutak said, so it’s important they be there, especially for Kayla and Kurtis.
“We really want the kids to have as much support as possible.”
The Tutak family is trying to spend as much time together as they can, loving and supporting one another.
“We’re hanging in. The shock was the main thing in the beginning. It still is quite a shock.”