Obituary of Julia Bridget Reardon

Julia Bridget Reardon, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on July 3rd, 2024, at the age of 98. She was born to Catherine (Breen) Root and William Root on February 3, 1926, in Flint, Michigan. She was married to George E. Reardon of Detroit, MI 1946 and they moved to Newbury Park in 1963. Most recently she resided in Santa Barbara, California. She is survived by her seven children and 56 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church, 2475 Borchard Rd, Newbury Park on Saturday, August 10th at 11:00 AM immediately followed at noon by a reception and lunch on the church patio. A motor escort is to leave the church at about 1:45 pm for a 2:00 pm graveside service and a 3:00 pm internment at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks – Griffin Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362. Flowers are to be sent to Julia Reardon c/o Rose Family Funeral Home, 4444 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063. Flowers must arrive by 8 am Saturday August 10 th when they will be transported by the flower car to St Julie Billiart Church. Memorial donations may be sent to St Julie Billiart Catholic Church, 2475 Borchard Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320. Please indicate in a note on the donation check: “St. Julies Helping Hands on behalf of Julia Reardon.”

Julia’s enthusiasm for life lasted into her final years. She found serenity in visits to the ocean and throughout her life she enjoyed an artistic talent in calligraphy, cake designs and decorating. Her loved ones were often delighted with her beautifully crafted missives and celebratory, complex, and humorous cakes.

Julia had a passion for subtly nurturing others. Her family appreciated her confidential and non-judgmental listening to their individual quandaries. And as a District Manager of the News Chronicle in the 1970’s and 1980’s, she cultivated the skills and business acumen of a generation of young News-Chronicle paper carriers. Many of these carriers later fondly recalled her mentorship as foundational in their young careers.

Julia had many accomplishments. As a child in Flint during the Depression, she helped her family by making pasties which her brothers sold in the auto factories. Later, after graduating from Saint Matthew’s High School in 1944,she supported the war effort by working for the U.S. Army Signal Corp in Detroit. With the modesty and under-appreciation typical of the women of her generation, few in the family were aware of the significance of her activities in the Signal Corp as a clerk supporting the communications, command, and control for the military in the field. Her most vivid wartime memory was being sequestered by the Signal Corp for its security requirements during the dropping of the atomic bombs.

But Julia’s proudest accomplishment was her large and diverse family. Julia married George Reardon, a childhood friend, after he returned from serving in the Pacific as a Marine. After 51 years of loving marriage, George preceded her in death in 1997, followed by her daughter-in-law, Katherine Breen, in 2000. Julia is survived by one of her twelve siblings (her brother Gerald Root) as well as all seven of her children and spouses and 20 Grandchildren, 29 Great-Grandchildren, and 7 Great-Great-Grandchildren Julia’s children and spouses are:

• Michele Sayball and spouse Jim Sayball;
• Timothy Reardon (spouse Katherine Breen, deceased);
• Maureen Brown;
• Maxine Smith and spouse Paul Smith;
• Lois Reardon;
• Mary Errato and spouse Frank Errato; and
• John Reardon and spouse Susie Reardon;

Despite her large family, Julia was always attentive to their individual lives and accomplishments. She cherished stories about them and took great pleasure in watching her family grow. But nothing brought her more joy than hearing about, and looking at, the pictures of the youngest children in the family, especially her newest grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Julia maintained a matchless sense of tolerance and humor in managing life’s various challenges. She enjoyed recounting stories, from her experience inthe Signal Corp, where she accidentally sent her girdle through a copy machine, to the time when the family dog, Pumpkin, ate the top layer of one of her wedding-cake creations. During her leisure time, she also enjoyed watching college football and listening to her favorite music. In her later years especially, visiting the ocean beaches in Santa Barbara held a special place in her heart, serving as a favorite destination to relax and find tranquility.

Her warm, non-judgmental nature endeared her to her family and all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Julia Bridget Reardon's legacy will thrive through the imprint of her kind heart on those she met and especially her loving family. The impact she made on those around her will not be forgotten. May she rest in eternal peace.