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Age 99
Sister Judith was a woman of multiple talents with the ability to rise to challenges inspired by her motto, “Only joy.”
Educated by the Sisters of Mercy from first grade through college, she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mount Saint Agnes College (now Loyola University) in Baltimore, Maryland, and a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Initially she taught science at Mt. St. Agnes College for six years before becoming their academic dean and then academic administrator. Next, she was elected to the leadership team of the former Baltimore Province of the Sisters of Mercy and served two terms. In 1982 she initiated a project called the Learning Bank, a community-based adult literacy program that offered one-on-one instruction in many areas of life, including parenting and job training. This opportunity to work closely with those whose needs were so great was exciting for Judith and she excelled at finding ways to fund this ministry.
At the age of 75, Sister Judith went to Guyana, where her ministries included teaching, caring for the sick elderly, helping young girls who were being trafficked, and fund raising. She truly followed Catherine’s wishes that her sisters should respond to the needs of the times. She worked in Guyana for 19 years, fulfilling her lifelong desire to serve God as a missionary.