Judith Evelyne Johnston

Born in Mann Settlement on May 29, 1944, daughter of the late Sanford Fleming Irvine and of the late Evelyne Emily Harvey.

She always wanted to be a mother and felt that was her highest calling. She had four daughters who were her pride and joy. She was co-owner of their family business, B & J Cleaners, and employed various members in the community. She loved shopping, especially for clothes. She loved dressing up for church every Sunday. Judy was an avid church-goer and could recite much scripture by memory. She was, with her husband, Beverley, the Sunday School superintendant and was known for her organized Christmas plays. She loved to organize events for the church, making sure every “t” was crossed and every “I” was dotted. She loved children of all ages and was the longest-standing Sunday School teacher at her church. Everything she baked or cooked was delicious, especially her Spudnuts and Ladyfinger Torte. Folks of all ages dined at her table amidst laughter and conversation. She had a great talent for hospitality. She listened to many people as they shared confidences with her and she prayed for them to have breakthrough in their lives. One of her favorite expressions was, “A still tongue makes a wise head”. Although she did not have a stellar or illustrious education, she enjoyed reading her Bible daily, underlining important passages that spoke to her at various intervals of her life. She was an avid walker, covering 5-10 miles daily and loved playing games, such as Sequence and Madame de Pique. She adored her grandchildren and literally wore out the T-shirt, proclaiming it was so. Judy also enjoyed Bluegrass festivals and whenever you would catch a glimpse of someone vigorously line-dancing to the music, it was probably her! She even took to the stage from time to time to sing her favorite song, “A Coat of Many Colours”. Together with her husband, they travelled to Florida every year to bypass the cold Canadian winters, returning with her enviable suntan! Camping and fishing was a favorite pastime of Judy’s and enjoying the serenity of the Mighty Restigouche and the majesty of the surrounding mountains and valleys while drinking a double-bagged cup of King Cole tea and a slice of peanut butter pie was the closest thing on earth, next to heaven.

Judy is survived by her four daughters, Cindy Kaye Burelle (Gary), Wendy Jane Ray (Craig), Shelly Ruth Johnston, and Kilby Dawn Perron (Jean-Paul), and her grandchildren, Jeremy Abele (Canel), Aaron Abele, Chelsea Abele (Dominic), William Johnston, Samuel Johnston, Isaac Johnston, Alexander Perron, and Joshua Perron and great-grandchildren, Jordan Abele, Kaiya Abele, and Sanford LeBlanc. Also, her surviving sisters and brother, Mae Nimmons (Hugh), Alexander Irvine (Colleen), Annie Kay Manchios (Theodore), Velma Mann (John), and Lynn Golden (John) along with many well-loved nieces and nephews, and cousins. Besides her beloved parents she is predeceased by her husband Beverley; four brothers, Sanford Irvine, Harvey Irvine, Fenwick Irvine, Ottis Irvine, and three sisters, Barbara Rainville, Della Boulay, and Mary-Lou Harrison (who joined her on the same day, only hours earlier).

A funeral service will be at the Living Hope Church of God, Dalhousie Junction, on July 4th, 2022 at 11 am.

For those who wish, donations can be made to the RCVAA, The Women’s Shelter, or the donor's choice, in her memory.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Maher’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.

(506)789-1699 or toll-free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]