Rudy Paul Buliavac

Rudy was born on April 24, 1935, to Frank and Isola (Tolomei) Buliavac. He was the fifth of six siblings, Olga, Hilda, Alvin, and twin sister Rita, and had a sister who died at birth.

At the young age of 12 Rudy began working as a paper boy. He managed two paper routes, earning enough to buy a bicycle and later a car. He worked at Waddles Family Restaurant until he married Jadwiga. He provided for his family by working as a salesman at 7-Up Distribution, and then as a manager at Frito Lay. Rudy ultimately finished his work life after 22 years as manager of a Midas Muffler shop. He retired at age 60 because he wanted to care for his first local grandchild.

Rudy met Jadwiga (Jadzia) through a mutual friend and was immediately captivated by her. They started talking regularly on the phone, and then attending Sunday morning mass and spending the day together until his next restaurant shift began. He finally won her heart with his bright smile, charm, and a bouquet of red roses and they became engaged at the Portland Rose Gardens. They were married on September 10, 1960 and shared 65 years as devoted husband and wife.

Rudy’s devotion to hard work and family allowed him and Jadzia to create cherished memories for their children. He enjoyed trips to Disney Land, the Oregon Coast, the Redwoods, British Columbia and other Oregon adventures, never missing an annual family vacation. Rudy was in the National Guard and very patriotic. He especially loved the Fourth of July celebrations and brought joy to his children with his spectacular fireworks. He spent a great deal of time with his two sons when they participated in Boy Scouts, attending campouts and supporting their road to Eagle Scout. Every Christmas Eve he dressed up as Santa Claus to the delight of his entire extended family, and faithfully attended his children and grandchildren’s games, concerts, graduations, baptisms, First Communions, and more.

Rudy was a man of quiet and profound faith. As a child he learned Latin in order to become an altar server, but was grateful as an adult when he could pray the mass in English. At St. Rita’s Catholic Church he served as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, dishwasher at the St. Rita’s Annual Spaghetti Dinner for 55 years, and volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry for 30 years. After retirement he attended daily mass and faithfully unlocked the chapel for the daily communicants. He and Jadzia participated in many movements within the Catholic Church throughout their marriage such as Renew, Marriage Encounter and the Catholic Family Movement. At Whitewood Gardens Rudy’s good friend Michael Taylor from St. Rita’s brought him Eucharist twice a week. Together they instituted a weekly Communion service for Whitewood residents, which brought them much joy and comfort.

His four children meant the world to him. He dropped everything to help them when they needed him. He drove to the Bay Area or flew to New Jersey to stay connected to his children and build special relationships with his grandchildren, and was deeply involved in the lives of those in Portland. He will forever be remembered for his generosity, his well-loved stories and jokes, his enthusiasm for card games, and his passion for sports, especially when cheering on his children and later his grandchildren.

Rudy leaves behind his wife Jadzia; his twin sister Rita Beaudoin of Huntington Beach CA; his children, Greg of Union City, CA, Julie O’Brien and her husband Michael of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, Teresa Jefferies and her husband Mike of Portland, OR, and David of Beaverton, OR; his ten grandchildren Laurel Buliavac, Alex Buliavac, Christopher O’Brien (wife Sarah), Megan O’Brien Crayne (husband Michael), Sam O’Brien, Teddy O’Brien, Nick O’Brien, John (JP) Jefferies, Janina Jefferies and Daniel Jefferies; and his seven great-grandchildren, Evangeline, Azelie, Chiara, John and Joseph O’Brien, and Siena and Ava O’Brien Crayne.

A rosary for the repose of Rudy’s soul will begin at 10:30 am, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 27, at St Rita’s Catholic Church, 10029 NE Prescott St, Portland, OR. All are invited to a light reception following the service and the burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 333 SW Skyline Blvd, Portland, OR at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Rita’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, St. Rita Parish, 10029 NE Prescott St, Portland, OR, 97220 or at the link below.