Bob Dandoy of Butler and his grandchildren, Eden and Van Matonak, unveil the plaque dedicated to his late wife, Julie Dandoy, at the Butler Area Public Library on Wednesday.

Julie Dandoy's volunteerism will bloom with the plants in her garden.

“It means a lot to be able to recognize officially some of the work she did,” said Lori Hinderliter, executive director of Butler Area Public Library. “When people go by, if they know or knew her, they are inspired to pass on some of her volunteering spirit and advocacy.”

Dandoy's life and dedication were remembered with a special ceremony Wednesday evening at the Butler library when its rain garden was officially named “Julie's Garden” in her honor. A gold plaque that reads Julie's Garden sits on a pyramid-shaped stone in remembrance of the community and library advocate.

More than 35 community members, the library's board of directors and staff and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners recalled the life of Dandoy, who died in 2018 at the age of 63.

In addition to being a longtime teacher at Emily Brittain Elementary School in the Butler Area School District, she was a certified Master Gardener and member of the Butler Garden Club. Dandoy also served as leader of Butler City's Shade Tree Commission.

As a member of the Butler Library Board on the buildings and grounds committee, Dandoy was instrumental in the rain garden's creation, Hinderliter said. Since 2012, the garden has dotted the library's landscape as it runs parallel to Brady Street.

A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials and flowers planted in a small depression generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns.

Dandoy served two six-year terms on the library board and helped manage and supervise the renovation of the library's outside courtyard.

“So many projects that we have completed in the last 10 years, she played a major role in,” Hinderliter said.

She said Dandoy was instrumental in getting plans to renovate the landscaping and courtyard at the library approved.

Dandoy won the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania's “All Around Excellence” award in 2015.

“We wanted to do something to remember and honor her,” Hinderliter said. “She put in many hours of service taking care of our property. Since her passing, many of the same group of Master Gardeners agreed to continue what she started.”

Toni Fennick, who was inspired to become a Master Gardener in 2014 when she took a yoga class with Dandoy, continues Dandoy's work at the library. Fennick recalled how Dandoy brought her under her wing at the time.

“It's wonderful,” Fennick said about the memorial stone and plaque. “Let's continue on the legacy.”

The library combines all the things Dandoy loved — children, education, books and gardening, said her husband Bob Dandoy, of Butler.

Instead of people standing at the plaque, Dandoy joked that his beloved wife would tell them to work in the garden. He said people driving down the street toward the library will turn the corner and see the rock with the plaque honoring Julie. He hopes the monument serves as inspiration.

“(It will) motivate them to become involved in this world,” he said. “A reminder of what she stood for, which was activism and trying to be involved and making Butler a better place.”