Judith Ann Duval (Morgan), treasured mother and grandmother of Whitman, MA, passed away on September 27, at South Shore Hospital, surrounded by, and enveloped in, the love of her family.
Born in Cambridge, MA on March 16, 1943 to Mary Margaret Morgan (Yetman) and Robert Foster Morgan, Judy was the second in what would be a line of eight children. The family eventually made their home in Whitman, where Judy excelled at school and graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 1961.
Judy married John, her high-school sweetheart, and started a family very young. Though she could have pursued any number of education or career paths, her heart was most strongly called to be a loving wife and mother. She was a natural and loving mother who could easily transition from screaming cheers from the bleachers to giving standing ovations in the theatre. She loved cooking for her family- from gourmet quality meals, to her award-winning apple pie- and being there every day when her kids got home from school. Together they enjoyed many happy times at home and on family vacations and adventures.
In time, Judy’s tenacious zest for knowledge led her to further her education at Massasoit Community College where, in 1986, she earned an Associate of Science degree in Liberal Arts with a perfect GPA of 4.0.
In the years that followed, Judy’s love expanded exponentially as her children had children of their own. Her grandchildren filled her heart with love and pride. Even when she became less able to join them in person, she reveled in hearing their stories and seeing pictures of their lives and adventures. She was promoted to great-grandmother in November of 2023, and subsequently fell in love every time she looked at (and laughed with) her great-granddaughter.
Through joys and tragedies, Judy never stopped learning or writing, ultimately publishing a book of poetry, Whisperspeak, in 2021, an accomplishment that brought her and her family great pride. Her writing is indicative of her love of family, the beauty of nature, and is a reflection of a life touched by both deep love and deep loss.
Judy was preceded in death by her beloved son, John, her mother and father and her dear brothers, Bobby and Billy.
She is survived by her children- Craig Duval (Lisa), Marc Duval (Vernell), and Jennifer Duval White (George), her grandchildren- Megan, Sara, Abra, Allie, Jeremy, Maddie, Ila and Mabel, their respective spouses and partners and her great-granddaughter, Charlotte, as well as her former husband and lifelong friend, John, her siblings Karen, Leslie (David), Beth (Frank), Kris (Bob), Jeff (Olga), and Rose, and her many nieces, nephews and friends.
Judy always had such a giving and creative spirit. She loved cooking and humor and nature and science and antiques and literature and music and art and travel and children and family and learning.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorial donations be made to the Educational Foundation of our local PBS affiliate, WGBH at: WGBH Educational Foundation, Attention: GBH Office of Gift Planning and Endowment, One Guest Street, Boston Massachusetts, 02135 or via the GBH website: GBH Donations
Services will be held at Blanchard’s Funeral Home, Rt 58. At the rotary, Whitman, MA with a visitation on Weds. 10/1 from 4-7 and a memorial service on Thurs. 10/2 at 11:00 am, to be followed by burial at St. James Cemetery.