First pediatric nurse practitioner in Mass.
LYNNFIELD — Judith A. Wiswall, a longtime resident of Lynnfield, died Feb. 14, 2015 at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Born in Lynn on July 20, 1941, she was the daughter of the late William T. and Dorothy M. (Rockett) Birchenough.
Judith attended St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. She was a graduate of Catherine Labouré School of Nursing and was the first pediatric nurse practitioner in Massachusetts. Judith was a member of the team that developed the principles and goals of the National Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program and was the membership chairperson and treasurer for the organization for many years.
She was a published author in a medical journal and respected expert on childhood skin diseases. She worked at Lynn Union Hospital prior to working in her husband’s pediatric practice.
Judith was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Assumption Church for 50 years and a member of the parish council. She was a longtime member of the Salem Country Club and avid golfer.
Judith was the wife of the late William Cobb Wiswall, M.D. She is survived by her son, William C. Wiswall Jr. of Lynnfield; her sister, Janet F. Birchenough of Lynnfield; and her sister, Mary D. Lombardi and her husband Primo of Oak Bluffs.
She was the aunt of Primo Lombardi III, Arianne Lombardi Willey and her husband Ryan and Nina Lombardi Kiendzior and her husband Dana. She was the great-aunt of Cai Lombardi, Jack R. Holmes, Brooke M. Willey, Greyson R. Willey and Abel W. Kiendzior.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, corner of Grove and Salem Sts., Lynnfield, on Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Thursday, Feb. 19 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in Judith’s name may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114.
