LYMAN - Judith Allen Smith, RN, passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by family members and friends on October 27, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with MS and attendant complications. Judith was born in Greenfield, MA on September 14, 1948 to Charles Russell Allen and Elizabeth Hatch Allen. She attended Bement School, Saint Mary's in the Mountains (now The White Mountain School) and Pine Manor, before graduating from Boston University in 1970. Throughout these early years, Judy was particularly active in the outdoors and excelled in a wide range of sporting and nature activities. She had particular passions for skiing, hiking, swimming, camping, boating and loved the mountains, gardening, canning and cooking. Later in life her passion was for books and music. She graduated from Boston University with a major in Literature and minor in Art History. She loved to listen to the singers of her time, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, etc., and to classical music. She could name the piece and composer after just a couple of notes. She loved English and Russian literature and had read most of the great books and authors. Judith would spend hours talking about them with her best friend, for 40 years, Steve Casari, a book dealer and owner of book stores and a consultant on setting up book stores and gift shops in some of the most famous museums in the country. It was a great loss for Judith when he died from cancer in 2014.
Following nearly a decade of working in the banking and investment industry at Maine National Bank and Union Mutual Management Co., Judith changed career directions. After receiving a Registered Nurse degree from Westbrook College (now The University of New England), she joined the Southern Maine Medical Hospital staff and dedicated the rest of her working life to the health and care of others. Judith had found her purpose in life and became an outstanding nurse and advocate for her patients. She was loved, admired and respected by her co-workers, doctors and her patients. For years after her career, patients and families of patients would walk up to her in stores, restaurants, etc., and thank her for her care and concern for them or their loved ones. It was a sad twist of fate that Judith contracted her illness of MS while attending vigorously to the well being of others.
Though having no children of her own, Judith was a champion of family matters throughout her life. She maintained the Allen genealogy and would recount personal histories and stories of past family matters to her nieces and nephews so that they would know where they came from and their family's rich history in the earlier years of this great country. She maintained close contact and interest in the lives of her nieces and nephews and her grand nieces and nephews. Judy was the "go to" person for them, with her listening ear, wise counsel and constant support and love for each of them.
The true love and mecca of her life was an island in Penobscot Bay in Maine named Pleasant Island. For over forty years she has spent many weeks of every year on the island. At first in tents, and then she and her husband cleared the land and built a cabin and spent many happy summers with friends coming and going. She was happy, content and in peace when she was on her island. The beauty and remoteness of the island and the ocean surrounding it fed Judy's soul. She will return to the island, her ashes will be spread and she will rest in peace on the island she loved so much.
Judith is survived by her husband of 40 years, Donald Smith of Lyman, ME; her loving dog, Lucy; sister-in-law Pat Smith of Alfred, ME; brother Bill Allen and wife Shirley Martin of Yarmouth, ME; niece Rebecca; nephews William, Jonathan, Christopher and wife Kathleen; grand nieces Samantha and Grace; and grand nephews Zachery and Jacob;
longtime friends Kyle Carpenter and his wife Shelly of Minneapolis, MN, and their four daughters, Katy, Jenny, Annie and Laura. They have been coming to Pleasant Island almost every summer for the last forty years; Sharon Thibeault, her long time home care provider and friend. Judy leaves behind many close friends and associates, she was loved and admired by many and will be sorely missed.
She was loved by many and will truly be missed.
If friends choose, donations may be made in Judith's memory to:
Center for Grieving Children, 555 Forest Ave., Portland, Maine 04101.
Services and a celebration of life party will be held at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com.