Grace Pauline Judson

Grace Pauline Judson
Our dear mother, Grace Pauline Judson, was just shy of 92 years old when she died peacefully of natural causes on December 11, 2023 at home in Bloomington Indiana, surrounded by much love and tenderness with her daughter Mary - with whom she lived - and Mary's family: Katie, Maggie, Rachel, Knasha, Jaden, Arianna, Scott, Josh, and Mary's dog Homer, who finally got to lay next to his Nana. Grace's other three children (Kim, Susan and Mathew), grandchildren (Luke, Eric, and Lucia), former son-in-law, Jack O'Hara, and nephews John Judson and Roger Allen made final visits to her recently.
Born in New London, Connecticut on January 25, 1932, Grace was the eldest (first generation) daughter of immigrant Sicilian parents, Lucy and Ralph Genovese, and the loving wife of her late husband, Robert Michael Judson (1998). The eldest of five children, Grace grew up in New London with her late brother Vito Genovese (2001), late sisters Josephine Genovese (2007) and Jenny Surdo (2019), and her youngest sister, Gloria Smalarz. She is also predeceased by her nephew, Tim Birchall, and her first husband, Mario Ruggerio Mariani.
After attending New London High School, Grace started working at age 15 as a seamstress in a garment factory to help her family and then, later, as a switchboard operator - the latter position played to one of her greatest strengths: her ability to talk to anyone and set them at ease with her friendliness. Then, after years as a stay-at-home mom managing the household with military-like cleanliness and precision, loving and caring for her four children and husband, and happily serving as the family/neighborhood hairdresser, Grace took a paid position as a customer service representative and office manager at the local Sears warehouse. Grace loved this job and her "office family"; she easily resolved customer issues with her warmth and empathy, homemade cookies, and willingness to stand up for her customers. Everyone loved her, as demonstrated by the many letters of appreciation she received from (sometimes irate) customers and commendations from senior management.
Most important, however, was Grace's focus on her family and growing number of grandchildren, whom she moved to Indiana to be closer to, doting on them until the end of her life. From the birth of the first in 1981 to the last in 2003, Nana welcomed each of her little angels, who became the luckiest grandkids on earth, entering her world of unconditional love and amazing meals - from even the pickiest eaters, who wouldn't eat anything that wasn't white (Mamma Mia!), to those who thought her spaghetti with tomato sauce, famous mashed potatoes, and snowball cookies were sent directly from heaven. Grace's love language was food and everyone adored her for it. She especially appreciated the annual bounty from niece Diane Hubbard and husband Tom's and Dave Donahue's gardens.
But her attention wasn't confined to the kitchen. She loved Esther Williams and was determined that her children (and grandchildren) would become excellent swimmers at a young age, and they did. She often said that this was one of her greatest accomplishments. Grace also spent endless hours with each of her grandchildren, playing in the park, attentively watching children's TV shows, teaching them how to read, dance, cook, laugh, and most importantly, love. Nan's grandkids were an extension of her children (whom she loved equally and deeply) and the loves of her life!
As she got older, Grace became a voracious TV news watcher and was quick to let anyone within earshot know what she thought about the (hateful) politics of the day; which were antithetical to her in every way imaginable. Grace was an early Democratic poll worker and a stalwart Democrat to the very end. Growing up in a working-class family and integrated (Italian, African American, and immigrant) neighborhood with a father who became disabled at a young age, Grace knew the importance of supporting working people, immigrants, and the less fortunate. Like her parents, she was generous to a fault, giving away nearly everything she had to family members in need.
She loved (and was loved by) her extended intergenerational families of Genoveses, Dinotos, Marianis, and Judsons - the countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and their families - and the many friends, neighbors and others she met over the years, drawing them easily into her orbit (including her favorite Bloomington Thrift Shop ladies and Kelly, her hair stylist of many years). The Judson family, in particular, held a special place in her heart, as she adored her husband Jud and found his large, spirited, and animated family a perfect fit, and they loved her in return. As one Judson niece (Beth Forgie) put it: "…even as a busy mother and devoted wife, she always went out of her way to make me feel special…[and]…the only time she was ever cross with us is if we wouldn't eat while visiting."
Grace openly shared her immense wellspring of love, contagious personal warmth, charming personality, enormous generosity, open-mindedness, and strong Democratic values, and was as independent-minded and (politely) forthright in her opinions as a woman from her generation could be; we are all proud of her for it.
Grace is survived by her four children and their families: Kim and her spouse, Nina Friedman, and California nephews Nathaniel and Cameron Dunstan; Mary and her partner Scott Marsh; Mary's (and her ex-husband, Jack O'Hara's) children; Katie and husband Josh Hancock; Rachel and wife Knasha Jones and Rachel's children - Jaden and Arianna; Maggie, Nana's main person and professional caregiver in her final years; Susan and (her ex-partner, Eduardo Fano's) daughter Ema Lucia Judson-Fano; and Mathew and wife Jackie Atterbury Judson and their sons, Luke and Eric and his partner Caroline; and her sister Gloria and her two living sons, Patrick Birchall and Adam Smalarz; and her sister Jenny's two children, Jackie Swaney and Jimmy Surdo and their families.
No one who knew Grace could escape her infectious optimism, sense of humor, authenticity and love of family, and all knew she was an extraordinary human being who held no animosity in her heart or prejudice in her soul. Although unable to finish high school, she was one of the smartest and most intuitive people in this large, extended, and boisterous family and as strong, loyal, and protective as a lioness. Born to two exceptionally loving and kind parents, she carried on their values of generosity, love of family, and love of country. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Wherever she ends up in her afterlife, we hope it's warm, sunny, and near a sandy beach… one of the other things she loved.
While there will be no funeral service or burial ceremony at this time, celebrations of our extraordinary mother will be planned sometime in 2024.