In Memory of Judy Mahaffy Smyth

Judy Mahaffy Smyth died peacefully in her sleep during the early morning hours of Valentine's Day, 1998, only hours prior to the birth of her second grandchild, Isabelle Heather Mahaffy. She is also survived by her loving husband, Dennis Anson; her three adoring children, Judy Pomeroy, Kathy Andreasen and Miles Mahaffy and their families; her two brothers, Doug and Terry Smyth and their families; her step-daughter, Danelle Anson; her former husband, Paul Mahaffy; and a panorama of close friends, valued acquaintances, esteemed colleagues and appreciative students.

After attending John Abbott College for over two years, Judy graduated in 1976 with the "Outstanding Psychology Student" Prize. Upon graduation and over the following twenty-two years, she worked in many different capacities at the College -- most recently in a Professional position as Coordinator of the First Nations Student Resource Centre. Prior to that, various members of the College Community came to know Judy as the Psychology Department's Lab Technician, Acting Chief Admissions Officer in the Registrar's Office, Acting Adult Learner Program Coordinator, Learning Skills Specialist at the College Learning Centre, and Professional Pedagogical Counselor with the Cree Project.

In addition, she volunteered selflessly and extensively serving the College Community as one of our 40 or 50 tirelessly dedicated, mostly unrecognized and forever unsung heros who have laboured mightily behind the scenes to keep John Abbott College a going concern for the past twenty or so years: The committee work, the phone calls, the corridor lobbying, the interminable meetings,... (You who are heroes know who you are.)

While doing all this, Judy managed to find the time, energy and ambition to complete a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with distinction) at Concordia and a Master of Education degree at McGill, raise three beautiful children, fall quite madly in love with one of her John Abbott colleagues, and master the first year or so of Grandmothering 101. No doubt she would consider these last few years she lived to be among the high points of her life.

Everyone Judy touched knew her as a cheerful person of high spirit and good humor, who was also patient, loving, nurturing, understanding, empathetic, sensitive, calming, caring, compassionate, and -- most of all -- kind. She didn't have a mean bone in her body. The lucky ones among us also knew her as courageous, adventurous and mischievous.

Outside the College, Judy lived, worked and played in an amazing number of diverse worlds, having the opportunity to try on a great many roles during her life, including --among others -- those of Judy the Loving, Supportive and Devoted Spouse, Judy the Long Distance Mommy, Judy the Square Dance Queen, Judy the Camping Trip Organizer and Canoe Captain, Judy the Race Car Flagging and Communications Worker, Judy the World Traveler, and Judy the Nana.

Family, friends and associates gathered to console one another and to celebrate Judy's life in a memorial service and reception held at the Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 222 Highway 20 in Pointe Claire, beginning at 3 PM Wednesday, February 18th, 1998. Everyone was invited to make a contribution in Judy's name to the Cardiac Monitoring System Fund through the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation.