Hilda Julian
December 19, 1917 – February 20, 2012
Hilda passed away peacefully at age 94 on February 20th with her son at her side. She will be remembered by everyone she knew for her kindness, generosity and interest in others.
Born in Douglas, Alaska in 1917, she later moved to Seattle with her parents and two sisters. She met the love of her life, Arthur at a City Light sponsored picnic at Cottage Lake near Seattle. They were married for 70 wonderful years until his death in 2007. They shared many interests, including golfing and bicycling, and when living in Seattle going dancing every Friday was a highlight. While in Seattle they raised their one son, Mark. They moved to Bainbridge Island in 1992 to be closer to their son and his wife and two grandsons.
Both Hilda’s and Art’s parents came to the United States from small villages within ten miles of each other in the far North Tyrolean region of Italy. They traveled to Italy to the towns of their families to stay with relatives on several occasions. They were both fluent speakers of the native dialect of the Val di Non and were on each visit made to feel immediately a part of the community, spending their time with relatives and locals visiting in the Piazza or helping in the fields.
Hilda worked for a trucking company in Seattle after graduating from Queen Anne High School. She was hired as a bookkeeper, but had to fill in on occasion driving from Seattle to Mount Vernon. She later worked at Rhodes Department Store, Seattle Trust and Savings Bank and then Safeco Insurance Company. One of her many passions was gardening and her yard was a showstopper when in full bloom. She loved animals and had several dogs over the years but none could compare with her beloved Molly, a darling Cairn terrier who kept her company day and night.
Hilda was able to remain in her home despite her gradual decline in health with thanks to her devoted son and family and her wonderful caregivers. She became very close friends with Buck Johnson after they both lost their spouses and this friendship was to become a lasting bond with nearly daily outings to lunch.
Hilda is survived by her son Mark, daughter-in-law Diane and grandsons August and Pete, in-laws Lila Bergamo, Florence and Roy Allesio, Ida and John Pompeo, Rudy and Barbara Julian, niece Nancy Winterstein, and nephews Gary (Lori) Weiland and Dwight Weiland, and many nieces and nephews from the Julian, Bergamo, Allessio, Pompeo and Bertagnolli families.
Hilda was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Cecilia Church on Bainbridge Island. Services are to be held at St Cecilia’s on Saturday, Feb. 25th at 10:00 am, with a viewing from 9:00-9:45am. A private entombment will follow at Calvary Mausoleum in Seattle at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Saint Cecilia Church or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements made by Cook Family Funeral Home and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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