Judith Ann Tracy

Judith Ann Tracy, 75, of Chicopee and Thorndike, MA passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on January 11, 2023 after an extended battle with dementia.

Born on March 31, 1947, in Holyoke, MA to Russell and Lillian (McCray) Tracy, Judith belonged to a proud military family. Her father was Chief Warrant Officer IV for the US Air Force, so she, along with younger sister, Barbara grew up on a number of bases throughout the United States and overseas. The family returned to Massachusetts and Judith settled in the Fairview section of Chicopee where she raised her family and eventually cared for her aging parents. After earning an Associates Degree from Holyoke Community College, Judith began her career in the research department at the Republican newspaper. She also spent a number of summers working at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds in their printing department, an assignment she truly enjoyed. She remained employed by the Republican until her retirement.

In 2018, Judith moved to the family farm, ‘The Bogbeast Manor’ in Thorndike, MA where she lived with her son Michael and daughter-in-law Cathy and spent her days gardening, tending to the chickens, goats, donkeys, and her favorite pig, Choppy. Judith loved animals especially dogs and rescued many over the years. She was an extremely generous person not only in monetary donations for charities like Loraine’s soup kitchen, the MSPCA, the Heifer Project and various veterans’ organizations she also spent a great deal of her time volunteering. She would visit Veterans in the Soldiers Home, sit and read to hospice patients, build homes with Habitat for Humanity and help at church events. Judith was a member of the garden club in Longmeadow and a communicant of Faith United Methodist Church in Fairview.

Family and friends were most important to Judith and if she considered you either she would go out of her way help you in any way possible. She was an enthusiastic hockey mom, a confident, a traveling companion, and a friend to her sons Michael and Alan and they were the world to her. She cheered on her grand daughter Jordan during basketball, cheerleading, and track and her grandson Bobby in baseball and robotics. She always made time to share special adventures with each. Judith loved Newport and could be found there each year wandering the town, hiking the cliff walk, exploring a lighthouse and enjoying time with her nephew Mickey and his wife Lisa. Judith was an avid reader and loved being active; she was most happy curled up with a book or out walking with her Aunt Helen and their dogs. When Judith made a friend they were lifelong and their times together were some of her fondest memories; having lunch with Lorie, heading to an art show in New York with Deborah, an adventure in Virginia with Rita, going to Las Vegas with Kathy or visiting in Florida.

Judith will be most remembered for her kindness and desire to help anyone in need. She had a willingness to try new things and was the perfect partner for a good adventure. Her conversations were intelligent and she always had an ear to lend. Her sassiness, dry sense of humor, and love of fun will be sorely missed.

Judith is survived by Lester Tenney, son Michael Tenney and daughter-in-law Cathy, granddaughter Jordan Tenney and great grandson Forest, grandson Robert Rollins, nephew Michael “Mickey” Smith and wife Lisa, niece Michelle Marquis and husband Butch, grand nieces Ariel, Bridgette, and Veronica Marquis, Aunts Helen Butcher and Nancy Burke, sister Barbara Purrington and many extended family and friends. Judith was predeceased by her parents Russell and Lillian Tracy and most recently in 2022 by her youngest son Alan Tenney.

Judith's ashes will be interred and graveside celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 11 a.m. at West Cemetery in Granby, MA. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to be made in Judith’s name to Dakin Humane Society, 171 Union St., Springfield, MA 01105 or via www.dakinhumane.org.

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