Judith Margaret Monahan

Judith was born in Hartford on April 11, 1938 to Emily Jean (Meredith) and Frank Goodwin Morhardt. Judith graduated Manchester High School in 1957. After marrying on January 18, 1958 at the North United Methodist Church in Manchester, Judith and Gerald made their first home briefly in Glendale, AZ. When he completed his service in the United States Air Force, Judith and her husband returned to their hometown, Manchester, to raise a family.

Judith’s life’s work of raising a family required the dual responsibilities of laboring outside the home as well as laboring within the home. In the middle 1950s Judith worked along with her mother as a telephone operator at the Southern New England Telephone Company. In her first position of employment as a young wife and mother, Judith worked as a nurse’s aide and was a member of SEIU 1199. Years later Judith transitioned to be the manager of the Executive Answering Service in Manchester. Before retiring in 2005, Judith worked in the admissions department of Manchester Memorial Hospital. Throughout her long work-life, in all the positions she held, Judith’s work kept her committed to serving others.

Judith is survived by her five children and four children-in-law: John M. Monahan and Wiley Carr of Westbrook, CT; Kris Monahan Zerio and James Zerio of Lebanon, CT; David and Donna Monahan of Somers, CT; Stacey and Michael Fitzsimmons of Warren, NH; and Kelley Monahan of Orford, NH. Sharing in her children’s sorrow is Judith’s extended family: her three brothers and sisters-in-law Jeffrey and Marilynn Morhardt of Stafford Springs, CT; Jon and Lynda Morhardt of Vernon, CT; Meredith and Georgie Morhardt of Winsted, CT; nine beloved grandchildren, one blessed great-grandchild and eleven adored nieces and nephews.

Judith’s children offer thanks and gratitude to the staff of the Mansfield Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation for the care the staff gave and for the staff’s commitment to their mother’s comfort.

The kind people at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home are assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Judith humbly requested that we hold no calling hours. A private burial at the convenience of the family will take place at East Cemetery, Manchester. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children at 516 Carew St. Springfield, MA 01104. Alternatively, a memorial tree can be planted in Judith’s name by ALivingTribute.Org.