Julie Chen

FREEPORT – Julie Chen passed away at home in Freeport on Sept. 29, 2024.

She was born on Nov. 1, 1959 in Taipei, Taiwan. She was the youngest of four sisters and two brothers.

She was very artistic—singing beautifully, playing a Chinese stringed instrument, making paintings of birds and flowers, doing calligraphy, and sewing. Julie was very smart and was an excellent student. She received a diploma from a business school and worked for two years as an accountant at her cousin’s automobile factory. She then came to the United States in 1981 to live with her sister in Gardiner and to continue her education.

Unfortunately, soon thereafter, she was diagnosed with kidney disease and went on dialysis. Julie persisted, attending Cony High School during the day and adult education at night to learn English. She then moved to South Portland in 1984 to attend USM. She received her first kidney transplant, which lasted less than two years. She met her husband-to-be William Stevens in early 1986. She received her second transplant later that year.

She and William bought a four-unit apartment in 1989 in Westbrook, living in it until 1994. She moved with William to their current home in Freeport in 1994. Julie earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering at USM in 1995. They got married privately at home in January, 1996, and then had a big church wedding in Brunswick in June. Julie worked at her sister’s business in Yarmouth for a couple of years, then joined Bath Iron Works in 1998 as an electrical designer. Her husband was the live donor for her third kidney transplant in October 2001.

The couple adopted their son, Aaron, in August 2004, the greatest event of her life. She went back on dialysis in 2015 and retired from BIW in 2018 after 20 years. She celebrated her son Aaron’s graduation from Freeport High School in 2022. Julie loved picking blueberries, raspberries and apples, doing so every year from July through October. She even picked blueberries on her final weekend.

Julie loved cooking, shopping, flowers, watching television, going on long drives, and going out for breakfast every Saturday and Sunday. She had a very tough constitution and was able to embrace and conquer many medical conditions. Julie had the most consistent temperament and positive attitude imaginable. She possessed great strength. She was grateful even for simple things and acts. When Julie married William, she told him she just wanted to live a normal life. Together they tried their best, but it was way too short. She was a truly good and sweet person, with little capacity for pettiness and jealousy.

Julie is survived by her son, Aaron Stevens; husband, William Stevens; three sisters, brother-in-law John Stevens; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, both in the U.S and Taiwan.

A ceremony will be planned for some time in the next few months. Memories and condolences can be shared at http://www.brackettfh.com.