He was born in Biddeford on May 22, 1924, the son of George and Alida Martineau Daudier, and was educated in Biddeford schools. He married Catherine Fleming in St. Patrick’s Church in Portland.
Mr. Daudier worked a short time at the South Portland Shipyard at the beginning of WWII. In July 1942, He joined the Air Force, and was in England by November of the same year. He spent 14 years in Europe, England, France, Italy and Germany.
He received five Battle Stars for air offensives in Europe in Normandy, northern France, the Rhineland and the Ardennes, serving with the 8th Air Force. He also served with the engineers battalion in France along with the 36th Infantry Division and the 106th infantry Division.
He retired at age 38 from the Army after being assigned to Fordham University, where he was an instructor in military science to ROTC graduates. After being discharged in 1963, he lived and worked for the local water company in Ocean, New Jersey. He then moved back to Maine, where he worked for Rice Building Management in Portland until his retirement in 1989.
Joseph enjoyed maintaining his home and doing yard work. He loved to read.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ione Andrei Daudier, in 1948; their son, Richard Daudier, in 1990; his second wife, Clementine Virgilio Daudier; and his brother, Paul Daudier; in 1984.
He is survived by: his wife, Catherine Fleming Daudier of South Portland; three sons, Frank Daudier and his wife Maria of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, Joseph Daudier and his wife Lynda of Brick, New Jersey, and Michael Daudier and his husband Michael of Santa Fe, New Mexico; two brothers, Gerard Daudier and his wife Cecile of Biddeford, and Joseph R. Daudier and his wife Debbie of Stewart, Florida; two sisters, Aline Martel of Biddeford and Jacqueline Laflamme and her husband Gilles of Arundel; six grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, June 6, at St. Joseph Church in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford.
Memorial donations in Joseph Leo Daudier’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice or the Army Historical Foundation (National Museum of the U.S. Army) in Arlington, Virginia, online at armyhistory.org.
Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel. To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com.
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