William P. “Bill” Dundulis, Jr., 76, of Woonsocket died Friday August 23, 2024 at Landmark Medical Center. Bill passed away following a courageous struggle with decline health. He was the loving husband of Paula J. (Poznick) Dundulis. Bill and Paula were married on October 10, 1981 at St. Catherine’s Church in Norwood, MA.
Born and raised in Norwood Bill was the son of the late William P. Dundulis, Sr. and Frances (Brown) Dundulis. Bill’s mother Frances passed away when Bill was only 3 years old in 1951. In April of 1954 Bill’s dad remarried and Bill was raised as the stepson of the late Irene Dundulis. Bill attended St. Catherine’s school in Norwood and was a graduate of Boston College High School with the class of 1966. Bill was a graduate of Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree majoring in chemistry with the class of 1970.
Following his graduation from Stonehill College and at the height of the Vietnam War, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force. Bill served from 1970 to 1974 when he was honorably discharged. During his service Bill was a radar instructor.
Following his service to his country Bill went on to earn his Master’s Degree from Boston College in Radio Chemistry. He then moved to Woonsocket where he has resided for over 45 years.
Bill had a long and distinguished career with State of Rhode Island Department of Public Health. Even at the age of 76 Bill was currently employed with the state at the time of his passing, the word retirement was just not in Bill’s vocabulary. Throughout his career Bill served in numerous capacities including the asbestos prevention and abatement program, environmental risk assessment, he programed Rhode Island’s first Blood Lead Database and the Radiation Control office. Bill was dedicated to serving the citizens of Rhode Island and truly relished his work and the many colleagues he was fortunate to have over the course of his career.
Bill lived a life of dedication and service to his church and community. He was a longtime active communicant of Our Lady Queen of Martyr’s Church at Holy Trinity Parish. Bill served the parish as a lector and Eucharistic minister, the Holy Name Society and parish council. Bill was very involved and supportive of the annual OLQM parish carnival. He was instrumental in many aspects of pulling off the successful annual signature event for the parish, especially helping with the carnival kitchen aptly named “Cuisine Ronaldo” in honor of the founding pastor of the parish and the carnival the late Msgr. Ronaldo Gadoury.
Bill deeply believed in and supported Catholic education. He was dedicated to the mission of Catholic education as member of the board and treasurer of the Greater Woonsocket Catholic Regional School System.
Along with his support of Catholic schools Bill was active in scouting as a parent and later volunteer with Boy Scout Troop 2 in Woonsocket. He was the unit commissioner and was involved with the Scouting Food Drive of Northern Rhode Island. Bill was the instructor for the merit badge in nuclear science, always a popular subject with scouts. Bill was a member of the Diocese of Providence Bishops Committee for Catholic scouting and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and was a Wood Badger of the Eagle Patrol.
Bill was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus. His service with the Knights began in Norwood with Council # 252 and later in Attleboro with Council # 404 and the Brother Robert Nichols (from LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro) 4th Degree Assembly. He was a Past Grand Knight, former District Deputy and Past Faithful Navigator, conferring officer and state raffle chairman.
Bill was a man of wide and varied interests and hobbies. As a proud Air Force veteran Bill had a love of everything related to aviation including possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of aircraft and the workings of airports. True to his Ocean State roots Bill had a nautical side to him as he was also knowledgeable about ships. Bill traveled far and wide, sometimes for pleasure, more often for work and was proud to have visited most of the 50 states. Bill was a voracious reader of everything and anything he could get his hands on. Nonfiction or science fiction, you name it, books and magazines about all sorts of subjects was right up Bill’s alley. He had an interest in coin collecting.
True to form Bill was an all Boston sports teams fan supporting the Celtics, Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox and closer to home the Paw Sox and Providence Bruins. Bill was a Sci-Fi aficionado and his imagination was piqued as a fan of Star Trek and Star Wars. He also enjoyed attending concerts and listening to a variety of music including Irish music (a favorite was the Clancy Brothers) and folk music.
Bill will be remembered a true gentleman who deeply loved and cared for those around him. He saw each and every day as a gift from God to be lived to the fullest. Bill always sought to do what he could to help and serve others. Even in the face of his illness Bill was concerned for others and had plans for future endeavors.
In addition to his wife Paula, Bill will forever be the proud father of his namesake son William P. “Bill” Dundulis, III. Bill and his son shared an especially close bond of love and friendship. Bill was the brother of Edward Dundulis and his wife Carol of Sudbury, CT. He is also survived by his extended family of several nieces, nephews and cousins and their families as well as the many friends Bill made along his journey in life.
Everyone is invited to gather to remember, honor and pray for Bill at his funeral Friday August 30, 2024 at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in Holy Trinity Parish at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church on Park Ave. Woonsocket. Bill will be laid to rest with military honors at Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4:00-8:00 pm.
At the conclusion of the services at the cemetery there will be an invitation extended for all to gather with the family at the Coachman Restaurant in Bellingham for a continued opportunity to celebrate Bill’s life and legacy.
In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of Bill’s commitment to Catholic education, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Greater Woonsocket Catholic Regional Schools, 1210 Mendon Rd. Woonsocket, RI. 02895 or www.gwcrs.org
www.menardfuneralhome.com