May 10, 2020. A few weeks before her passing she had tested positive for COVID-19 virus but exhibited no symptoms.
Judy was born on October 6, 1924, in Superior, Wisconsin. She was the eldest of nine children and was involved with housekeeping and child care at an early age. She graduated high school and joined her Aunt Mary Gratreaks as a housekeeper in training for the household of Roman Catholic priests and Archbishop Fr. Joseph Annabring.
She met her future husband, Maurice Durand, through his sister Noella and after a courtship through World War II, they were married in Superior on June 11, 1946. On their honeymoon, they traveled West through Canada to Roseburg, Oregon with her in-laws. This was a great post-war adventure for the newlyweds.
In Roseburg, Maurice and Judy started their family while Maurice learned the carpentry trade with his father. Catherine, Dianne, and Douglas joined the family while they resided in the Durand in-law’s upstairs apartment. Eventually, they moved to the first “Maurice hand-made” house. As the carpentry work became scarce in Oregon, Judy, and Maurice, now with 8 children (with Phyllis, Donald, Duane, Irene, and Janet added to the family) journeyed to Kirkland, a suburb in the Seattle area. After spending time renting homes, they settled in Redmond, Washington.
As the children grew older, Maurice and Judy worked as a team designing and building a home that was suitable for their large family and numerous temporary visitors.
Judy was a dedicated mother with amazing skills, raising 8 children (plus grandchildren) while Maurice (1924-2003) was occasionally working away from home in Alaska for months at a time. She raised chickens, planted gardens; and managed to teach her children how to keep house, cook, and to be independent. She taught her children how to share and cooperate with one another while chauffeuring them to school, shopping, library, sporting events, and part-time jobs. She was a dedicated volunteer with her Church and children’s school groups.
Judy instilled in her children the value of saving and budgeting their hard-earned money. She was an avid seamstress sewing most of her children’s clothes. She was talented enough to design and sew her daughters’ and relatives’ wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Judy was an accomplished mentor, arranging flowers, catering large gatherings, and calmly teaching her children to drive. She was a driving force behind her children’s first-time car purchases encouraging them to find more freedom.
During their marriage Judy and Maurice took trips to California, the East Coast, Wisconsin, and Canada, towing a travel trailer with the family car.
Making the move to Camano Island was another major event in her life. This move was prompted by the desire to downsize and get Maurice to an area where vehicle traffic was less congested. She was able to enjoy her flowers, hummingbirds, and wandering deer in her yard. Judy challenged herself and found time to pursue a successful career in the Real Estate business earning several top sales awards of which she was very proud.
At the age of 92, with a diminishing vision and her need for more assistance with daily activities, Judy moved back to Redmond to stay in an assisted living community where she was able to receive continuous care from staff, make new friendships, and have daily visits from her children.
Judy’s greatest joy was being with her family which has grown to include 8 children, 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. With her sharp hearing, she delighted in listening and reciting lyrics and nursery rhymes from the golden age. The gathering of the generations of family and friends brought her much joy.
It was a Mother’s Day filled with many blessings and memories when Judy was called home to be with the Lord.
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