Judith Knott

CHESHIRE - Her friends knew her as Judy. And Judy returned home on Sunday, September 4, 2016, surrounded by her family, at her house in Cheshire.

Judy is survived by her family: Her husband, John of 52 years, and their three children—Douglas and his wife Michelle, Katherine, and Andrew and his wife Meghan—and eleven grandchildren: Stephen, Clara, Michael, Eric, Ethan, Gabriel, Carolyn, Sarah, David, Anna Christine, and Edithe. Judy also left her sister Margaret and her husband Brian, and their three kids, Matthew, Nathan, and Alicia, and their six children. Judy’s brother, Stephen, and her grandchild Mary Katherine predeceased her.

Judy was a teacher both by training and by nature. She graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA and began her career as a Home Economics teacher at Womogo Regional High School in Litchfield. Her tenure there ended with the birth of Douglas, her first child. After several years as a full-time homemaker, Judy obtained her master’s from University of St. Joseph and returned to teaching as a third grade teacher at St. Dominic School in Southington. In her 18 years there, she taught over 350 students. Shortly before her passing, she spoke of how she loved the kids and being their teacher, especially their Catechism teacher.

Judy had a full retirement: She volunteered for Carolyn’s Place, she served on the Cheshire Public Library Board and helped start a well-attended book club. Judy also enjoyed being “by the water” every chance she could get.

Judy left a large circle of friends, many of whom helped and supported her through her illness over the past year.

Judy was known for her often-requested recipes for roast chicken, oven-fried chicken, tarragon chicken salad, potato salad, pot roast, meatloaf, meatballs, pork chops with sauerkraut, white bean hummus, lemon-pepper green beans, cranberry bread, coffee cake, your special birthday cake, pies with crusts made with lard and vodka (especially her lemon merengue pie), sugar cookies, Irish soda bread on St. Patrick’s Day, and of course, potatoes: mashed, baked, twice-baked and scalloped. For Judy, cooking was synonymous with love, and it was rare for her to show up at someone’s house without her baked goods in hand.

Judy left her family and friends with a host of happy memories: She had a characteristic and rather pronounced way of slapping a table with her hand when laughing hard, which she did often, especially at Sunday Dinner, which was special to her. Judy made meatloaf sandwiches for the poor, and ate the same for her dinner, out of respect. Judy could quote Seinfeld like nobody’s business. She always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and demanded the same of her children. She sent thank-you notes without fail. Judy was an avid quilter and left all her grandchildren quilts that she had sewn by hand.

Judy was a happy, humorous, generous, and kind-hearted woman of Faith with a gift for making people feel welcome and special.

Arrangements - Calling hours will be Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 from 4-7 p.m. at Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire at 615 South Main Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9 at St. Bridget Church, 175 Main St., Cheshire, with a reception to follow at The Waverly. A private burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Watertown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carolyn’s Place: 137 Grandview Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708: http://www.carolynsplace.net/.