Julie H. Farrell

Julie Louise Hudleson Farrell, 84, of Staunton, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at King's Daughters Community Health and Rehabilitation Center in Staunton.

She was born in California - just nine days after the attack on Pearl Harbor - on December 16, 1941, the daughter of the late United States Air Force Major Wesley L. Hudelson and his wife, Dr. Dorthea Bush Hudelson.

Julie was much loved and is very much missed by her children, her children-in-law, her grandchildren, her sister and brother, her sister-in-law, her nieces and nephews, and her many friends. In short, she was a lovely human being. She instilled in her children and grandchildren our first conceptions of gentility, benevolence, elegance and dignity. She was supportive and accepting to the end of her days and never rushed any of them. She took spending time with her family so seriously that it was always an event for her to hear their news over a cup of coffee. When her grandchildren were little, they were welcomed anytime for sleep-overs - which started with "read-a-louds" at night and included the particular favorite breakfast of the day - whether that was blueberry pancakes with bacon and Nutella or French toast with powdered sugar and lemon juice. She also put out the special soap for sleep-overs because the children "were guests".

Although her BA degree was earned at Rhode Island School of Design, her favorite educational experience was studying for A-levels at St. George's School in Harpendon, England. She could sing along to every word of Handel's Messiah; and her Latin-fueled vocabulary was second to none, all thanks to St. George's. Additionally, she was a super-fan of McVities chocolate digestives, an avid reader, a generous hostess, and an excellent cook. She loved flowers and always had a beautiful garden. Julie was also a lot of fun to spend time with because she loved to laugh and was a keen observer of people.

She was a lifelong painter of the people and places she loved. If you happen to own one of her paintings we hope it will continue to brighten your home, warm your heart and bring you much pleasure.

She travelled widely through the US and Canada, Central America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. She lived for extended periods in the United Kingdom, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and varied parts of the United States. She especially loved her many painting trips to Italy. She was also a founding member of Staunton's Co-Art Gallery, and an enthusiastic participant in innumerable painting excursions with friends. In addition, she always had time for a painting lesson for a grandchild.

No one's path is trouble-free and Julie met her challenges with grace. But on the whole, it was an exceptionally rich and uniquely beautiful life and she never forgot that. She recently said how much she liked "recollecting" the happy memories from years ago.

She described the care she received at King's Daughters Community Health and Rehabilitation Center in the last year of her life as both "very good" and "comforting". The staff said she blew good morning kisses to them at the start of every day. Her family thanks everyone at King's Daughters who participated in her care for their love, kindness, and dedication.

Julie is deeply missed by her family and her many friends. She lives on in our hearts, and in her paintings, and in her still reverberating kindly effect on our world. One of the last things she was able to say coherently was that "the most important thing is love".

She is survived by her children, Heather Bernard and her husband, Peter and Ben Farrell and his wife, Tanya; her grandchildren, Wesley, Eve, and Cecelia Juliet Bernard and Charlie and Henry Farrell; her sister, Mary Horowitz; her brother, Travis Hudelson and his wife, Patty Spinner; and her nieces and nephews, Nora Grosvenor, Molly, Luke, and Maddie Hudelson.

All services will be private.