HUDSON FALLS – Judith Johnson, 71, passed away Thursday, January 8, 2015, while at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Judith was raised in Hudson Falls. She was the daughter of the late William and Regina Bilodeau.
Judith earned her Bachelor’s from St. Lawrence University in 1966 and completed a Certificate of Study at the Sorburrne.
In 1999, Judith retired from New York State Audit and Control Division. She specialized in fraud and abuse in Medicaid. During her 34 year career, she received numerous awards and recognition. She worked in the New York City Office for over 25 years before completing her career in Albany and then returned to her childhood home in Hudson Falls.
Judith’s passions were Paris, the arts, and cooking. While in New York City she opened the restaurant, Lion D’ORR in Brooklyn. The restaurant was well known for wonderful French cuisine and neighborhood charm. Judith also loved to paint, and to enjoy the warmth of a friendship and good conversation over a glass of wine.
She was a global traveler, making frequent trips to Paris and other European countries, as well as the United States. She served on the leaders of the Feeder Canal Alliance and the Hudson River Music Hall. Her passion for all kinds of music made her not only a board member of the Hudson River Music Hall, but also a benefactor, a friend and a beloved member of its “family”. She loved and was loved by its board, its volunteers, it regulars, patrons and its musicians. She brought, to all who knew her, laughter, new experiences, opinions, class and food, food, food!
Her charm, grace, generous spirit and passion for life will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Judith is survived by many loving friends.
Friends may call on Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street, in Hudson Falls.
A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church, on the park in Hudson Falls, with the Reverend Thomas Babiuch, pastor, officiating.
The Rite of Committal will take place in the spring at Union Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice
I was sorry to hear of Judy’s passing. I served on the Board of Directors of the Feeder Canal Alliance with her. She is to be admired for her passion, dedication, and visions she had for the organizations she dedicated her time and talent.
Best regards,
Heather Shoudy Brechko
Judith was the President of the Board Directors of the Washington County Tourism Association. I was the Executive Director. I enjoyed working with her in advancing tourism in the county. I always admired her intelligence, dedication and creativeness in her approach.
In addition, she became a great friend and always sup
Judith was the President of the Board Directors of the Washington County Tourism Association. I was the Executive Director. I enjoyed working with her in advancing tourism in the county. I always admired her intelligence, dedication and creativeness in her approach.
In addition, she became a great friend and always supported me.
I will miss her greatly!
Judy had verve. I will miss her vitality and the sparkle she gave to
everything she was interested in.
Rest in peace Judy.
Susan
Judy was the queen of good advice whether day to day or more obscure. She was also the Queen of good food and drink (introducing me to my first taste of good scotch). But most of all she was a friend and part of our “family”. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emet. Rest in peace Judy. Every time I kindle the electric menorah you gave to me after insisting I say the blessing and setting it in your window by your tree I will remember all of the good times even more so than I will remember them already.
I love this picture of Judy and loved reading about some of her amazing past. She was so involved with the community and loved to share her warmth of friendship. I was a total pain in the butt when I was little, and she still loved me. She is a true queen of versatility of friendship. I miss and love you Judy.
Jessie
How does one memorialize a person such as Judy? I was blessed to know and love her for nearly forty years. She possessed a gentle spirit and kind heart. How she loved the English language and well written prose. I remember the Irish Blessing she spoke at my Mom’s burial when I was too torn up to speak. That was Judy, always ready and able to step in.
RIP my dear friend, I love you!
Hudson Falls will not be able for a long time to truly understand the many gifts Judy contributed to the town, its organizations, and its individual residents. Not a day goes by without my recognizing a part of my life that she enriched. I miss you so much, Madame, and I hope you can look down at us and say, ”Wait and see! This is so beautiful from here!”
I burnt a pot yesterday while cooking..Long story short, I was trying to cook homemade dishes, push mow an acre and half of grass and keep an eye on my kids. I managed to get most of it done, but one of my pots–that Judy has given me about 8/9 years ago–bridal shower.. looked ruined…I’ve been scrubbing it for days now and the thought of where it came from and that it may be ruined crushed me! I thought things would get better over time, but …My feelings of missing her feel so fresh..I am thankful that she has delighted me not only with her presence, but that I have only wonderful memories of her. She continues to be part of my life no matter what day of the week it is. I miss her so much.
On Hearing of My First Lover’s Death
You were a senior just returned
from junior year aboard in Rouen
and I was a freshman, free of boarding school
and we were both in studio art
with easels on the balcony of the old library
beneath the stained glass window
in its brilliant wheel of light
You were a blue-eyed blond
often in a chignon, an “Independent”
What you painted I no longer recall
Standing below my second-floor window
you called Mon cher—Toi, descendre!
These were the days of in loco parentis
when, on Sunday afternoons, I’d visit your dorm room
with the door open and the Prefect on patrol
but I had the big Mercury Monterey
and soon we were driving through the snow
to Ottawa’s Châteaux Laurier for weekends
of what we both wanted—days and nights of it
fueled by spirits Johnny and Jack
near-desperate, revelatory
After graduation we moved you to New York
and a first-floor apartment in the West Village
What job did you get?
I only remember
both of us knowing that summer was the end
and the last night lying together beside
an open window and the rain coming down
spattering the sill, cooling our limbs
and then my leaving in the rain
walking past your window, the shade drawn, down
the narrow street, glistening in the rain
and both of us knowing this was the way of things
but too young to care much about it
knowing then we each had all the time in the world
–Richard Dey