Through the mercy of God, Judith M. “Judy” Goley, 78, succumbed peacefully at home in East Berlin in the arms of her husband, Robert, on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Diagnosed in October, 2016 with non-small cell lung cancer, she fought it twice with the vigor of the “Swamp Yankee”, “Taurus”, New Englander that she was. Already afflicted with COPD, the repeated radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the immunotherapy and the resulting pneumonitis damaged her lungs too much to continue. She received God’s call with quiet acceptance.
Born to William Davis Reed and Emma Mai Barden in Wakefield, Rhode Island on April 29, 1942; she grew up in the perfect world of “South County: Rhode Island. She was named after Point Judith, at the southwest entrance to Narragansett Bay, with only minutes separating her from her beloved ocean and horseback riding with her friends. After graduation, she began a career at the University of Rhode Island. She progressed from one office to another, including Registrars, Executive Secretary to the Board of Directors, and the Alumni Association. In between breaks for child-rearing, she worked as a waitress (who found that Mafioso can be gentlemen), took up belly dancing for exercise and started a roadside stand for “Judy’s Jellies” which became extremely popular, even drawing in out-of-state orders!
Having had prior marriages, she was not looking to marry again. But, being outgoing, she and friend started Ocean State Singles Club. There she met this “nice, clean-cut, Ivy-league looking” guy with a lost puppy dog face. And a friendship started, and it blossomed into love. A love so strong that, when his Federal agency closed the Rhode Island office, she made the tough decision to leave her work, her Mom and siblings, and her world and follow him in marriage to the dreaded “Big City”. She made the decision to convert to Roman Catholicism, both because of her own interest but because he was Catholic, thus beginning the competition between the “Cradle Catholic” and the “New Catholic”. The next 34 years were not pure bliss but were the happiest years of her life. When she moved to Lake Meade, the country girl was back home, back to what she called “God’s little piece of Heaven on earth”. She had found her perfect house, one on a lake in the country. She made friends easily, became active in Homemakers, raising funds for scholarships for local high school seniors. She became active in our church, joining in or leading several ministries. She helped others as she could, advising on step-daughter going through a tough time to “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go on with your life”. She became close friends with three of the nicest women in the world, and had other dear friends who were her “Angels” as she fought cancer.
Having a large, mixed family, she is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob”; her sister, Linda Harvey and Wendy Reed; her sister-in-law Marjorie Reed; her son David Southland; her daughters Holly Green and Cindy Southland; her biological grandchildren Sheena Southland, Lynly Lovelace, Ryan and Emma Banashak; her step-sons Sean and Rob Goley; her step-daughters, Nikki and Erin Goley, Lauren Harrall, and Alexis Grennan; her thirteen step-grandchildren; a great-granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her older brother George Reed, her nephews Billy Reed and Keith Harvey, and her grandson Brandon Southland.
A funeral Mass is planned for Saturday, August 22nd at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania. Seating is limited because of the pandemic and the family is being given priority. Please check with the church secretary (717-259-0611, option 5) to see if a seat can be reserved. Burial will follow immediately in the church cemetery where all are welcomed but are required to remain at their cars to maintain social distancing. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Judith may be directed to support research at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer, specifically by Drs. Russell Hales, Julie Brahmer, and Karthik Suresh. Please make checks payable to John Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed, with a memo specifying that this gift is in memory of Judith Goley, to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, PO Box 170269 Baltimore, MD 21297-1029 or make a gift online.
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