Julianne Brennan Bodnar

Julianne Brennan Bodnar, beloved mother, devoted social worker, treasured friend, passed away, surrounded by loved ones, at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 9th, following a recent diagnosis with cancer.

 Julianne lived a life rich with love, adventure and purpose. She was born in New Orleans to Leslie and Bernardine Bodnar on April 23, 1947. She grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and moved to Chicago where she was a teacher, wife and mother, then resided in Managua Nicaragua; San Francisco; Medellin, Colombia; Washington, D.C.; and Santa Fe. She graduated from Mount Saint Joseph’s College in Cincinnati and while raising her three children, earned a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland. 

 Julianne’s dedication to her career as a social worker (LCSW) reflected her profound commitment to empowering others and building community. She worked in adoption at the Barker Foundation in Washington D.C., then served as a director of Catholic Charities and Su Vida in Santa Fe, where she was instrumental in developing programs to support families and individuals. Later in her career, she counseled adolescents and families by focusing on strength-based therapies. Julianne’s memory will live on through the lives she touched.

 More than anything, Julianne treasured spending time with family and friends. She is survived by her three loving children: Emily Cline Freas (Sean) of Tucson, Michael Cline (Amanda) of Pittsburgh, and Leslie Vitale (Peter) of Santa Fe; six grandchildren: Logan and Sophia Freas, Noah and Hannah Cline, Benjamin and Elliot Vitale; and eight siblings: Tom, Kathy, Jim, Bill, Michael, and Beth Bodnar, Susan Hildebrandt, and Mary Pat Bay. 

 Her beloved family, many dear friends and the community she served will forever remember Julianne’s warmth, compassion, humor, and vibrant spirit. Though Julianne has left this world, her spirit inspires us to continue to love, act, and be mindful to spread peace in this world. 

 A celebration of her life will be held Saturday November 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Kiva Chapel of Light in Santa Fe New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests donations to the following charities, honoring Julianne’s commitment to improving the lives of others. 

Communities in Schools www.communitiesinschools.org, The Food Depot https://thefooddepot.org/, and the Montage Music Society www.montagemusicsociety.com