PORTLAND -- Judith Slocum VanDerburgh passed away surrounded by loved ones in her home in Portland on August 5, 2018 at the age of 88. She was born in Middlebury, VT, May 19,1930, the daughter of Julia Weiters Slocum and Howard Irving Slocum. Howard was the town’s osteopathic doctor through the depression and WWII. Judy attended Middlebury schools, graduating from MHS in 1948. Following high school, she attended Saint Lawrence University and Columbia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Nursing, in 1953.
She met her husband Arthur James VanDerburgh as teenagers over seventy years ago; they started a conversation at a toboggan party that hasn’t yet finished. After courting five years through deployment to Korea and multiple schoolings, they were married on June 20, 1954 at the Middlebury Congregationalist Church.
A skilled nurse, Judy aided Art in his family practice and put her training to use both in hospital work and in raising six children across seven homes as Art went through his career in osteopathy and pathology. She was an active member in many churches and their choirs, most recently at State Street United Church of Christ, caring especially for the elders in her community. Judy volunteered for meals on wheels for over thirty years and was the first female lay leader at Clark Memorial United Methodist Church. In her younger years, she was also very active with her husband at Mechuwana United Methodist Church Camp as a member of the camp committee, a counselor and even a dean of a week-long camp program for the seniors. Judy sincerely believed in the dignity and worth of all people. She will be remembered for her ceaseless service to her family, for her open and active mind, and for her intellectual curiosity. She enjoyed cooking, baking, her word-search puzzles, being outdoors watching the birds and keeping up with the lives of every child, grandchild, great-grandchild, niece, nephew and friend in her orbit, loving each as a unique individual.
She is predeceased by her twin brothers, William and Warren. She is survived by her husband Arthur of Portland; sister Joanne Slocum Elder of Fremont, OH; children Julia VanDerburgh Bell of Allen, TX; Charles Arthur VanDerburgh of Portland; Kristen Joanne VanDerburgh of Pittsburgh, PA; Michael Stewart VanDerburgh of Leominster, MA; Thomas Fredrick VanDerburgh of Buxton, Jane Elizabeth VanDerburgh of Biddeford and their partners and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and their partners as well as 10 great grandchildren, with the 11th due in October. Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation on Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 4-7 P.M. at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, ME. A celebration of Judith’s life will be conducted September 8, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at State Street United Church of Christ 159 State St. Portland, ME.
I lieu of flowers, donations in Judith’s name can be made to Camp Mechuwana PO Box 277 Winthrop, ME 04364
Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Judith's guestbook and offer your condolences.
