Judith Ann Todd

Judith Ann Todd, Epsom NH - Judy Todd passed from this life on October 10, 2024. She embodied many characteristics- integrity, humor, and wit among them. She worked hard at everything she did. In her lifetime, she was devoted to family and was a faithful friend to many. She was fiercely devoted to her husband, Dick, and spent her remaining years daily missing him after his passing in 2008.

Judy, a native of Oxford, MA, was born 80 years ago in Webster, MA (across the road from Lake Chaubunagungamaug, otherwise known as Webster Lake). She was the oldest child of E. Merton and Ada E. Murdock; with a sibling, Robert Murdock of Thompson, CT.

In her youth, Judy was an active member of her hometown. She was a graduate of Oxford Memorial High School. In 1966 Judy came to NH to teach first grade in Canterbury NH at a time when the state was desperate for teachers. She had completed degree work at Plymouth State College and Worcester State College. She had been a long-term substitute teacher in Oxford, Mass and later in Pembroke NH as surrounding towns. After her marriage, she finished her bachelor’s degree at Notre Dame College in Manchester and taught first, third and fourth grades at Pembroke Hill School in Pembroke NH. She was nominated by former students for inclusion in the inaugural edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Former students stayed in touch with her all of her life.

In her childhood Judy began taking piano lessons in second grade. By seventh grade, she was accompanying school glee clubs, talent shows, church and other community events. She also sang in both the children’s and the senior chancel choir at the Oxford Methodist Church. Upon her move to NH she began singing soprano at South Congregational Church in Concord where she also did solo work, was a substitute organist and directed the junior choir for several years. She was a dedicated member of that choir for over 53 years. She served on many other committees within the church, including the Worship and Spiritual Life Ministry. She was a life member of South Congregation Church Relief Society.

Judy left teaching for a period of time and was the Activities Director at McKerley Nursing Home in Concord where she was believed to be the first full-time employed activities director in NH at the start of Medicare. Through her work there, she founded the Therapeutic Recreation Society branch for the NH Recreation and Park Association. Along with staff from UNH, she began to develop courses in therapeutic recreation for the nursing home field. She was a contributor to the book Fun is Therapeutic, by Ardis Stevens, and to” Nursing Home” magazine.

As part of a pilot project through the NH Recreation and Park Society, Judy was director of a statewide program called Folks-Recreation from 1972-1974. She traveled the state in a VW microbus to senior citizen sites to instruct them on how to develop programs of singing, dance, exercises and other recreational amusements for their centers. She was also Program Director at Havenwood Retirement Community, working until she met her husband.

During her various careers, Judy served on many committees, among them, the NH White House Council on Aging, NHEA/NEA, Granite State Reading Council, Education Associate of Pembroke, Merrimack Valley Retired Teachers and Educators, NH Retired Educators. She was recognized by the Academy of Applied Sciences for her contributions to elementary students for activities she devised for math and science.

Judy was an active member of the Epsom community where she helped with programs of the Epsom Public Library, frequently planning the summer Teddy Bear’s Picnic. She was a charter member of the Elwood O. Wells, Unit 112, American Legion, serving as chaplain, secretary and treasurer. She was a past member and officer of Fort Mountain Trailwinders Snowmobile Club. Along with her husband, she served as a Pease Greeter, Portsmouth, meeting many departing and homecoming flights of soldiers at all hours of the day and night. For a number of years, she was the Epsom correspondent for the Suncook Valley Sun. In her later years she served as a member of the Board of Directors for Meadowbrook, Epsom’s Housing for the Elderly.

Judy was known by family and friends for her flower gardens, knitting, letter writing and remembering people with cards (“Its nice to find something handwritten in your mailbox”), music, love of reading, and cooking (especially baking cookies for others), and a sense of humor that couldn’t quit as she could find humor and Irony where no one else would dare to look. Her frequent approach to life was, “If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry”. Judy was always busy with some endeavor either at home or away from it.

At home she spent countless hours knitting hats for the homeless cold weather shelters, Pease Greeters, the natal unit at Concord Hospital and the foreign mission projects at her church, as well as afghan blankets, booties and sacques. The hats amounted to hundreds and she knitted uncountable numbers of sweaters for children through Guidepost Magazine/World Vision’s Knit for Kids.

Through the years she enjoyed travels with her husband, especially their three-month cross-country trip, and their rides just to deliberately get “lost” in NH. After her husband’s passing, she continued with new adventures, one being the fun she had as a singing angel extra in the filming of Ernest Thompson’s movie “Heavenly Angle” in NH. She never forgot the many kindnesses shown to her after her husband’s death and tried to pay forward what had been given to her.

Judy is survived by her brother, Robert Murdock and his wife, Jean, of Thompson CT; her step-son Michael Todd, and his wife, Megan, of Epsom, NH; two grandchildren Dan Todd, his wife Emily, and their twins Sylvia and Martin, of Manchester NH; and Molly Todd and her husband Dillon of Hooksett NH; and several cousins, especially Alan Hawksley of Higganum, CT and Gary Hawksley of Webster MA.

A celebration of Judy’s life will be held at South Congregational Church on Pleasant St. in Concord, NH on Friday, November 15th at 11 am. Burial in McClary Cemetery in Epsom was private.

Contributions may be made to: Music Fund at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 03301, earmarked for Pipe Organ Maintenance Fund.