Family and faith were the center of her life
Published October 2, 2019
WAKEFIELD — Judith A. (Kelley) DeCourcy, 82, of Wakefield, beloved wife of the late David H. DeCourcy passed away peacefully on October 1, 2019 at the Bear Hill Nursing Center surrounded by her loving family.
Born and raised in Woburn Massachusetts on June 17, 1937, Judy was the oldest of five children of William V. Kelley and Marion C. (Tessier) Kelley. Judy was predeceased by all of her siblings: Richard, William, Janet, and Thomas.
Judith and David shared 49 years of marriage and together they dedicated their lives to their family. Family meant everything to them and they needed nor wanted anything more. Judy was happy to be a stay at home mother and treasured the days on Wolcott Street when life was about simpler things including walks and picnics at Lake Quannapowitt with her children. Judith is survived by those five children: Janet M. Donovan and her husband Daniel, Harold F. DeCourcy and Susan, Elise A. DeCourcy, Cheryl L. Holman and husband Walter, David John DeCourcy and wife Jennifer, and Jill DeCourcy.
Her legacy of love lives on through her 11 grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. They were the sparkle in her eye and brought her incredible and endless joy. Grammy’s loves are Caitlin and husband Clay, Kelley and fiancé David, Erin and husband Ryan, David, William, Ashley, Paul, Sean, Matthew, Meghan, and Kathleen. Grammy had a natural way about making everyone around her feel special and happy.
In addition to family, faith was also the center of Judith’s life and it seems fitting that she died on the feast day of St. Therese whose spiritual path was of love and selflessness. Giving and generous, Judy was always thinking of others and couldn’t do enough to help.
A proud member of the Woburn High School class of 1955, Judith was the class treasurer and helped coordinate the reunions for the past 50 years. She had a grand time at her 60th reunion just a few years ago.
For 12 wonderful years Judy was employed by Saint Joseph Rectory and cherished the special relationships with “her” priests.
We find peace in knowing she is at home and reunited with the love of her life and find comfort in knowing we have special angels to help guide us in life. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law John DeCourcy and Klaus Halm, sisters-in-law Betty Ann Halm and Amy Kelley, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and her dear friends Mary and Jim Lilley.
Her funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment will be at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield.
