Judith Ann Brock 78, formerly a longtime resident of Hanson, died Saturday May 9 after a period of failing health.
Daughter of the late William A. and Mary Veronica (Perry) Brock; beloved stepdaughter of the late Margaret May (Orcutt) Brock; cherished sister to John William Brock of Springfield and the late Joan Brock Healy of Whitman and Dennis; loving aunt of Kimberly Balaschi and her husband William of Bridgewater, Kathryn Dunford and her husband Michael of Boston and Dennis, and Kristin Morris and her husband Robert of Bridgewater; devoted and much loved Great Jude to 7 grand nephews and nieces; and dear friend to Pat Mansfield of Hanson.
Judy was born in Dorchester in 1941 and moved to Whitman where she graduated from high school, worked for the Brockton Edison (with a 105 average in their candlepin bowling league... pretty good) and attended Massasoit Community College and Bridgewater State University to earn her teaching degree.
Judy was a beloved social studies teacher in the Bridgewater Williams Middle School for thirty years. Over those years, she received numerous thoughtful notes from her former students including one she was most proud of from a senior at Harvard University who was becoming a teacher himself. He wrote, "I hope to be as great of a teacher to my students as you were to me”.
Judy moved to Marshfield then to Hanson where she enjoyed gardening, trips to the beach, walking her dogs, traveling, a good card game, an occasional round of golf and visits with family and friends; thoroughly enjoying her nieces and their children.
Judy loved dogs, not just her own but any she would meet. She wouldn’t hesitate to rescue a lost dog, returning him to his owner by using a filet mignon doggie bag as a lure or removing her shoelace to serve as a leash.
A second home in Dennis afforded her the opportunity for many new Cape friends, long walks on and around the beach with her dogs, and many wonderful memory making visits with her family and friends in a neighborhood that had been dear to her for most of her life.
Most recently Judy resided at Bridges by EPOCH in Pembroke. Judy’s family members would like to extend their gratitude to the devoted staff at Bridges for the loving, engaging and excellent care provided to her by that community.
For most who were lucky enough to know Judy, they would say that she loved her family, her friends and her simple but full life. For those of us who love Judy, we say that we are the ones who were truly blessed by her contagious laugh, her generous nature and her love of fun, all of which have afforded us with everlasting memories of treasured times spent together.
A memorial mass to celebrate Judy's life and a private grave side service will be planned for a later date.