BANGOR – Trudy J. Walo died peacefully March 23, 2010, at home. She was born Dec. 12, 1951, in Presque Isle, the daughter of Phillip E. and Velda L. Williams. She was predeceased by her father; and uncle, Hazen Allen of Mapleton. Surviving, in addition to her loving husband, John W. Walo, are her mother of Presque Isle and Old Town; her sister, Joy Labree and her husband, Robert Labree, of Old Town; her brother, P. Scott Williams and his wife, Kim Williams, of Stratham, N.H.; her aunt, Leona Allen of Mapleton; many nieces and nephews. Trudy and John want to thank Dr. Hartz, all the staff at CancerCare of Maine, and all who cared for her at Eastern Maine Medical Center, as well as the nurses and staff of Hospice of Eastern Maine – your efforts and compassion were a balm for our souls. Trudy grew up on a beautiful potato farm on the Williams Road, Presque Isle, and graduated from Presque Isle High School, then attended University of Maine at Presque Isle for two years. She and her husband of 37 years, John W. Walo married Oct. 6, 1972, at her family home. After the couple moved to Bangor, she took her degree in childhood education at University of Maine, Orono, and began her 34-year career teaching kindergarten, first in Etna-Dixmont, then at Holden Elementary School, retiring in June 2009. She was the recipient of many honors and awards in the course of her career, including Exceptional Teacher of the Year. She, with Suzanne Smith, created a 5-year program called “Maine Journey,” of which she was very proud. She was actively involved in agriculture in the classroom, among countless other interests. She loved being a kindergarten teacher, and was loved and greatly respected by her colleagues and all the parents and children she served. She was tireless in her dedication to providing them with a warm, caring experience in their first year of school. In a word, she was an inspiration to all who knew her, both professionally and personally. As a person, Trudy loved to garden flowers, vegetables and herbs. Indoors she kept plants and cut flowers. She loved pussy willows, lilacs, sunflowers and lemon balm. She loved the seasons, berry picking and jam in summer, and harvesting pumpkins and apples in autumn. She loved to be outdoors for a long walk or beachside hike. And then there was baking – muffins of every kind; the feel of fresh bread, rolling crusts and kneading dough. Singing throughout the house, she relished a set of clean sheets, pressed clothes – she filled her home with warm colors like yellow, gold, pink, orange and sage. She loved the smell of vanilla, and the look of opals, cameos and broaches. She donned the classic sweaters of a kindergarten teacher – with decorations for all occasions. She was an expert at selecting and wrapping a perfect and thoughtful gift. Unafraid to laugh and cut loose, she anticipated big snowstorms, bringing out the kerosene lanterns, and playing cards and board games. She loved to watch romantic adventures, enjoying a thrill, while personally leading a steady, strong, trusting life. A fan of the pioneer days, she enjoyed practical arts like pottery, basket weaving, sewing and cooking. She loved animals, agriculture and nature; all things healthy and wholesome – prizing clean fun, hard work and real rewards. She cherished time with family, trips to “The County,” and coming together over a simple meal or extravagant spread of farm fresh foods. She had pure American style. She dared embrace the silly and corny things in life with reckless abandon. Still, she loved tea parties, and activities celebrating femininity, elegance and practicality. She was plain spoken and reserved, yet honest with everyone; valuing things of good quality and sensibility. Trudy showed her love for people and for her life every day, directly through her actions, small and big. She is deeply missed by all. A celebration of her life for all who knew and loved her will be held soon at a date and time to be announced in the Bangor Daily News. Condolences to family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
TRUDY J. WALO
