Juliette Rudnicki

Juliette “Julie” Simone (Béland) Rudnicki, 86, died peacefully in her home surrounded by family and friends on Sept. 10, 2022.

The daughter of Antonio Pierre Béland and Irene (Bisson) Béland, Julie was born alongside her beloved twin sister and life-long best friend, Aliette, on Dec. 14, 1935, in Augusta.

Julie and Aliette spent their childhood side by side, rarely apart. At age 17, the two sisters were skating at a roller rink when Julie locked eyes with Theodore “Ted” Rudnicki, a young dairy farmer from Bangor. Waiting for her to skate back his way, he suddenly saw her again — or at least, he thought he did. After a clarifying introduction with the two sisters, Ted and Julie began their courtship. The two were married on June 2, 1956, at Saint Augustine Church in Augusta.

Together, Julie and Ted built a home and family in Bangor, across the street from his family’s dairy farm. As their family grew, so did their house — with extra rooms built on as they brought each of their six children into the world.

Julie enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family, but she also had an active social life and a number of hobbies. She loved to ride snowmobiles and motorcycles with Ted, and they were both members of the Penobscot Valley Snowmobile Club and the Goldwing Road Riders, Bangor Chapter, for many years. She also loved to travel — over their 63 years of marriage, Julie and Ted visited every one of the contiguous U.S. states on their Goldwing motorcycle, and visited Hawaii by plane.

Julie was also a prolific gardener, her skilled hands transforming the acres surrounding their home into a brilliant utopia of perennials and annuals. The idyllic landscape she and Ted cultivated became the backdrop to family gatherings in the spring and summer months, while the rooms of their well-tended home became the setting for fall and winter events.

Among Julie’s other pastimes were visiting friends and relatives, square dancing, playing card games, and bowling. Julie was also a dedicated volunteer at The Attic — a thrift shop that benefits All Saints Catholic School — for many years.

Above all else, Julie’s home and family were her pride and joy. One would be hard pressed to name a matriarch more loving, kind-hearted and selfless. Over her 86 years of life, Julie cared for each of the members of her family in more ways than could be articulated in even the most lengthy dedication.

Her home was the setting of countless holidays, birthday celebrations, graduations and weddings. But more than providing a meticulous family home, Julie herself was the beating heart of every family gathering. Warmth simply radiated from her, and everyone around her could not help but feel joy when she was near. She leaves behind a legacy that lives on in each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — who together have experienced more than half a century of beautiful memories grown from the seeds of her fierce and unconditional love.

In addition to her parents and husband, Julie is predeceased by four brothers, Ronald, Armand, Gerald and Reginald Béland; three sisters, Giselle Béland Bourassa, Lucille Béland and Aliette Béland Courturier; two sisters-in-law, Fernande Turcotte Béland and Wanda Duckworth Béland, and two brothers-in-law, Lawrence Bourassa and Ronald Courturier. Surviving are her children, daughter, Deborah and husband Roger Applegate, of Bangor; daughter, Catherine Rudnicki Preyer and partner Terry Laukka, of Warren; son, Gerard and wife Melanie, of Newburgh; daughter, Susan and husband John Mullins, of Searsport; son, Anthony and wife Shelley Rudnicki, of Fairfield; and daughter Lucille Clark and husband Don Clark, of Orrington; ten grandchildren, Paul Preyer, Ginette Seamans, Alicia Bane, Marcus Preyer, Julie McDade, Anthony Rudnicki II, Shelby Rudnicki, Dalton Clark, Jill Clark and Maya Sevigny, and many great-grandchildren. Three brothers, Laurent and wife Jeanine Rodrick Béland of Augusta; Normand and wife Francis Rudnicki Béland of South Windsor, CT; and Romeo and wife Linda Coro Béland of Newport; three sisters-in-law, Jeanne Perry Béland, Lorette Boacher Béland of Augusta and Ginette Beaudoin Béland Thompson of Winthrop; ex-son-in-law Marvin Preyer; her dear friends Marilyn Ynot and Cathy Wey; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 am Monday, September 19, 2022 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 217 York Street, Bangor, followed by the rite of Committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Ohio St., Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of BrookingsSmith, 163 Center St., Bangor, following the mass. Donations may be made in Julie’s memory to All Saints Catholic School at www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/WeShare-2992. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.