Judith "Judy" Ann Googoo

Judy (Sutik) was born on September 23, 1956, in Baddeck, the daughter of Frank Larry and Mary Susan (Isadore) Bernard. Judy was a member of the Queen of the World Catholic Church, Wagmatcook, and a member of the Blessed St. Kateri Parish Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in We’koqma’q.

Judy sadly leaves behind her loving husband of 23 years and soulmate, Joseph Peter Googoo Sr. She is survived also by her adoring children: Vincent Googoo Jr., Colleen Googoo, Shelley Googoo-Pierrard (William), Amanda Julian (Darren), Tracy Stevens (Rodney), Laura Googoo (Kelly), Loretta Gould (Elliot), Jolee Googoo (Byron), Joe Googoo Jr. (Jessica), Courtney Stevens (Frank), Cornelia Francis (Leon), Mutt Googoo (Lyndsay), and Kirby Googoo (Jaycee). In addition, she leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Judy dedicated her life to protecting Mi’kma’kik through teaching and learning. Together with Joe, she spent countless hours planting, harvesting, trapping, and preparing. Her gardens were a hive of activity where she shared her knowledge and love of Mi’kmaw practices freely. She was a beader, leather worker, drum maker, and knew the old ways of birchbark biting. She was always out on the Bras d’Or lakes, canoeing in the summer and ice-fishing in the winter. Recently enrolled in the B.Ed. program at St. Xavier University, she was a life-long learner on the land, water and in the classroom. Her energy and curiosity led her to graduating as a barber from the Eastern College in Saint John, NB. Judy generously shared her deep knowledge and expertise with many organizations and projects, including the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources and the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.

She is survived by her brother and sisters, Philip (Karen) Bernard (Wagmatcook), Caroline Johnson (Millbrook), Mary Alexandria Bernard (Wagmatcook), Freda Kabatay (Membertou), sister and best friend Beverly Bernard (We’koqma’q). She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren, Stephen Pierro Jr, Loretta Googoo, Alfred Kabatay, and Bridget Sylliboy.

She is predeceased by her twin girls, Stacey and Patricia Googoo; brothers Lawrence, Peter Frank, Wilfred, Vincent, David, and Houlton; her sister Dorothy (Basque) Bernard; grandparents Lawrence Jerome Bernard and Annie Paul of Wagmatcook, and Louis Isadore and Flora Googoo also of Wagmatcook; godchild Spencer Bernard; and several nieces and nephews.

First visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 16 at 12:00 noon at 9130 Trans Canada Highway, We’koqma’q with the second day of visitation at the Elder's Centre in Wagmatcook starting at 5pm. Funeral Mass will take place at Queen of the World Church in Wagmatcook on Thursday, December 18 at 11am.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting twcurry.com.