Juliette O'Donovan

Juliette Dube O'Donovan, 90, of Longmont, Colorado, passed away Sept. 2, 2014. She was born Oct. 26, 1923, in Biddeford, Maine, the eldest daughter of Albani and Diana (Fillion) Dube. Her French-speaking Grandfather Fillion nicknamed her Tout Jeune, and her family called her June all her life. She was raised in Biddeford and met the love of her life, John Patrick O'Donovan, at Maine's Old Orchard Beach. They were married on Jan. 31, 1945, and embarked on a new adventure when Juliette joined John who was serving in the U.S. Military. They raised five children while traveling the world. John and Juliette lived in Germany as part of the army of occupation after World War II, and military life carried them to Texas, New Hampshire, Guam, and Nebraska. In her 40s after obtaining her GED, Juliette earned a bachelor's degree in French at Kearney State College. Along the way, she made friends with instructors and professors, and with classmates who were closer in age to her oldest children. As a non-traditional student and the mother of young children, she was ahead of her time and proved to herself and to those around her that an education was worthwhile, no matter the timing. After her college graduation in 1970, the O'Donovan's and their three youngest children moved to Boulder so that Juliette could pursue a master's degree while her teenagers finished high school and college. They became avid gardeners, composters and recyclers. They were often outside enjoying the garden or the spoils of the garden, canning and cooking in the kitchen. Juliette taught for a short time before John's sudden death in December 1977. The loss broke Juliette's heart but not her spirit, and she continued caring for and raising her children, and began new life adventures. Juliette worked with the elderly at Boulder Manor as a nurse's aide, where her nurturing and compassionate traits came to the fore. She had boundless, playful energy for her grandkids and spent many hours with them singing, baking, building tents and forts, pretending to catch fish in the back yard, picnicking, joking, and supporting them at graduations, concerts, and games. In 1995, she agreed to move in with her daughter Lynn's family, making their family of five a family of six. She was a third parental figure but she was also a confidant, champion and best friend to Tony, Nic, and Andrea. In later years, she continued to travel, camping with her daughter Judy in Idaho, and visiting her siblings and nieces/nephews in New England. Her family remembers her for her kindnesses, great and small -- sitting in the dark with a sick grandchild for hours, preparing special meals of cinnamon toast for finicky eaters, teaching French songs and recipes, and sharing her bountiful garden and affection. Juliette was preceded in death by her parents, husband and six siblings: Gabrielle Dube McPeak, Claire Dube Pendelton, Lorraine Dube Gendron, Joan Dube, Raymond Dube and Norman Dube. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Lee and Susan O'Donovan of Memphis, Tennessee, John and Marcia O'Donovan of Omaha, Judy Ann and Dick Baughman of Sequim, Washington, Lynn and Armando Pares of Longmont, Colorado, and Kevin and Doreen O'Donovan of San Jose, California; grandchildren Jessica and Jason Scheopner, Betsy O'Donovan, Katy O'Donovan and John Peterson, Tony Pares, Nicolas Pares, Andrea Pares, Caryn Robertson and Jeff Robertson; great-grandchildren William, Juliana, Jonathan and Catherine Scheopner; and siblings Theresa Boissonneault, Lucille Ready, Rachel McBrine, Jean Dube, Yola Richards and Renald Dube. The family of Juliette O'Donovan wishes to thank the staff at Boulder Family Hospice, Alta Vita Memory Care and Bross Street Assisted Living for the compassionate loving care given to their mom and grandmother. Private family committal will take place at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver. Cremation entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Hospice of Boulder at www.familyhospice.net/id58.html or by mail at The Family Hospice Foundation, 1790 30th St., Suite 306, Boulder, CO 80301. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.