Harriet Fly Judy¬
Harriet Fly Judy died July 23, 2016 at Evarts House (Historic Homes of Runnemede) in Windsor after a short period of declining health. She was in the company of people who loved her. She died as she lived: largely on her own terms, surrounded by the love and respect she herself spent a lifetime offering to her family and the many people she served.
Throughout her 95 years, she was a lover of words, and an incurable punster; always curious and never despairing about the world, though sometimes about her beloved Red Sox. She had a deep and abiding faith and lived by her own strict moral code.
Her family is grateful to Krista Johnson, who helped her stay at her beloved home on Weeden Hill in West Windsor well into her 95th year. They express love and gratitude to the Bill McNamara family, who offered support to Harriet in challenging times and always felt like extended family. They are deeply grateful to the staff of Historic Homes of Runnemede (HHR), where she spent her last months and died serenely. The loving care Harriet received from everyone at HHR could be a reflection back to her own legacy. The current staff embodies the culture and values she sought to cultivate for over 30 years at Stoughton House, now HHR, which she envisioned and co-founded in 1974 as a place where the elderly could come to live in dignity, regardless of means, and where local seniors could come for social interactions and nutrition. She designed it also to serve as the hub for Meals-on-Wheels in the Windsor area. Harriet served at Stoughton House/Historic Homes of Runnemede in many roles: as the senior center director, the chief administrator, and as social worker and the Windsor area Advocate for seniors. She was active on the HHR Board after she took 'early retirement' at age 84, and was instrumental in helping expand its mission by adding the lovely Evarts and Cox Houses to the HHR campus and affiliating with Mt Ascutney Hospital.
Harriet Fly was born in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1920 to Hattie Lindsey Fly and Judge Benjamin Horton Fly. She graduated from Stanford University in 1942 intending to follow her father into the law, but ended up practicing social work with a lawyer's keenness instead. She married James Judy in 1942 and stayed in Palo Alto, CA, where she raised her 7 children and helped her husband run his medical supply business. When that business sold in 1971, she moved her still-at-home family to the Upper Valley for what was intended to be a year, but ended up being the second half of her long life. She loved living in Vermont.
Harriet, known as 'Omi' to her 17 grandchildren, her 22 (and counting) great grandchildren, and many of her 7 children-in-law, always said her proudest accomplishments were her 7 children, who all followed her example, and in a variety of ways lead lives of love and service amidst close-knit families. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret, brother, Ben, and her eldest son, Larry Judy. She leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law, Lee Fly, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Her children Mark Judy, of Plain, WA; Lindsey McLorg of San Anselmo, CA; Meg Seely, of Bridgewater, VT; Ben Judy, of Waterbury, VT; Brig Judy, of Broadview, SK; and Meredith Liben, of Hartland, VT; were all with her in spirit or person when she passed. Her children and grandchildren will continue to live so Omi would be proud, and to take care of each other as she taught us.
Contributions in Harriet's memory or in lieu of flowers can be sent to Historic Homes of Runnemede/40 Maxwell Perkins Lane/Windsor, VT 05089. There will be a memorial service at Trinity Evangelical Church, 44 Main Street, Windsor, at 11a.m. Friday, July 29th
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com