Obituary of Judith Lillian Day

Judith Lillian Day, age 82, passed away after a long battle with dementia. Her family would like to thank the caregivers who provided her calming support at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA and the Dexter House in Malden, MA. Born in Melrose, Massachusetts to Frank and Lillian Gardner, Judy grew up an only-child in Melrose and in Rockport, MA where she loved to summer with her close-knit family and maternal grandmother Hulda Pearson. She attended Melrose High School and Fisher Junior College in Boston. In 1958 after several years of dating a local “hoodsie” she moved to Germany, got married, and started a 62-year relationship with that same “hoodsie”, Steve (Stephen) Day. They lived locally in Landstuhl, Germany near Ramstein AFB and in 1960 they welcomed their only son Christopher. Upon return to the United States in 1962, Judy supported Steve who was deployed on several bases in Arizona, Wyoming, and New Mexico. In 1964 the family moved back to Massachusetts, settling in Stoneham, MA to be closer to family. Judy began her professional journey in the early 1970s working for the United Way in Boston, Lane Construction in Lexington, closing out her professional career with the Mitre Corporation in Bedford, MA. She loved her work at Mitre and felt good being part of team and something bigger. Being a grammarian at heart and using her ability to organize just about anything allowed her to grow professionally at Mitre. Her favorite Mitre story to share was this, as she had some of the highest government clearances possible, “Christopher, if I told you what I was working on, I’d have to kill you.” She can be remembered for driving young youth hockey players of all levels around the state in a 1965 VW Bug, never missing a high school hockey game regardless of location or weather, taking her two grandsons Lucas and Zachary to Bermuda, Disney World, and Universal, summering in Southport, Maine after her retirement, hosting the annual Christmas Open House with its famous smorgasbord, cherishing her American or English Black Labs, dressing her “ducks” with her hand-sewn clothes, and reading multiple books at once. She was close to having enough credits for a BA from Northeastern University, a remarkable decision she made in her 70s. And, oh yeah, she also made a mean crock-pot spaghetti sauce as well. Thanks Irene Nardella! She leaves her husband; Stephen, her son Christopher Day and his wife Heather of Simsbury, CT, her grandson Lucas Day of Granby, CT, and grandson, Zachary Day of South Boston. The family will host a graveside service in Rockport, MA at a date to be named later. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601.