Julia "Julie" Reardon Ladet

"Old age is not for sissies" was a favorite saying of Julia "Julie" Roberta Reardon Ladet. Julie was no sissy. She was one strong and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She earned the name Nana and was proud of it. Julie left this world on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the age of 98 surrounded by her family in their log cabin in the mountains of Bethel/Canton, North Carolina which was built by her husband, family, and close friends.

Julia was born December 16, 1925, in Washington, DC to the late Edmund Reardon and the late Julia Costello Reardon. She grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, and married the love of her life, Tom. He then gave her the name Julie as Julia was her family name. She and Tom raised their children in Miami and instilled the love of family and faith in them. They were instrumental in Marriage Encounter in South Florida and made lifelong friends. They retired in Haywood County and spent the last 50 years making this their home. She and her late husband Tom would spend time exercising at the Haywood Regional Fitness Center, attending plays at Hart Theatre, and enjoying the mountain life. Julie was a kind and giving person who made friends wherever she went. In her younger years, she loved to sew and was an accomplished seamstress. She often sewed for family and friends. In later years, Julie discovered the Cricut and enjoyed gifting shirts, mugs, and plaques to friends and family. In her quiet moments, she enjoyed reading, making her way through countless books and stories.

Julia/Julie, the family matriarch, was a woman of strong faith and selfless love for her family. A loving wife and an amazing mother of nine children, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, she cherished family above all else. Julie spent a lifetime devoted to her children and always shared her faith, her love, her wisdom, and her wit with each one. When anyone asked how she was doing, she would say "A little squirrely but still climbing the tree." She had a quick wit and always smiling on the inside. She was and will remain a guiding light to her family. 

Julia's life was guided by faith. She started her every day with scripture readings and prayers. She was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Canton where she served as a eucharistic minister. A beloved member of her congregation, she sat in the same pew every Sunday with her late husband Tom at her side. Julie deeply loved her church family and was deeply loved in return by her friends in the congregation. She was a blessing in many lives and will be greatly missed. Julie's precious memory will be forever a legacy in our lives and she will be missed each and every day.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 ½ years, Thomas “Tom” Ladet who passed away in 2020; her sons, T.J., Shaun, and Paul Ladet; 2 brothers and 1 sister.

Surviving are her children, Mary Catlette (Bill) of Collierville, TN, David Ladet (Jean) of Lavinia, GA, Julie Baiardi (Fred) of Oak Ridge, NC, John Ladet of Las Vegas, NV, William Ladet (Betty Wright) of Las Vegas, NV and Beth Irvine (Darryl) of Las Vegas, NV; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; and many dear friends.

A funeral mass to honor the life of  Mrs. Ladet will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Canton. Father Paul McNulty will be officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Canton. Grandsons will be honored pallbearers.  The family will be receiving friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm Friday evening at Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Ladet’s memory to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, c/o St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 234 Church Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 or St. Joseph Academy, 175 State Road 1305, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is deeply honored to be caring for the Ladet family.