Judith Fischer

Saco, ME

Judith Fischer succumbed to a brief and sudden illness, passing away peacefully on December 20, 2024 at the Inn at Atlantic Heights, an assisted living community in Saco, Maine. She had recently joyfully celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by her loving family that included her devoted sister Barbara Schwahn, her two nieces, Lynne Parrella and Karen Glass, and their families.

Judy was born on December 4th, 1934 to Bowers Arnold and Ruth Seaver Fischer of Leominster MA. She graduated from Leominster High School in 1952 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Fitchburg State Teachers College. She taught 2nd Grade in Vernon Connecticut for over 30 years and was known for being a strict but caring educator.

Her proudest achievements occurred during her time in the Navy and she loved to tell of the day she arrived home to her parents in 1959 with the announcement of her enlistment that started "Guess what I did today?". Judy was stationed in Japan for four years and she collected many treasures and stories of her adventures that she loved to share with her family in the years that followed. When she came back to the States, she returned to the classroom in Connecticut and continued to serve her country in the Reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Commander in 1976.

Her nieces fondly remember Judy as a constant presence in their lives as she spent most weekends and summers with them, giving them their first ice cream cones as toddlers, teaching them to tie their shoes, and assembling toys at Christmastime. Judy began her retirement in the early 1990s by joining her parents in Sun City Center FL. She and her father were avid golf companions and she dutifully took care of them as they aged. She returned to New England in 2016 as a resident of the Hunt Community Center in Nashua NH. Throughout her life, Judy was a masterful knitter and cross-stitcher. She spent her later years creating beautiful pieces for her family members to cherish for generations to come, as well as crafting donations for a variety of charitable organizations with her companions at Hunt.

Judy selflessly served her country, her community and her family throughout her life and will be remembered for her timely wisdom and her unwavering dedication to her family. She is survived by her dear sister Barbara Schwahn, and her two nieces and their families; Lynne Parrella, her husband David, their two children Katherine and Lydia, of Medford MA, and Karen Glass, her husband Peter and their three children, Emily, Peter and Julia, of Falmouth ME. The families wish to express their gratitude to the caregivers and nurses who provided extraordinary comfort and care for Judy in the four months that she lived in the Atlantic Heights Community. In the final months of her life, Judy found great enjoyment from the activities at the Inn, most especially the music concerts and sing-a-longs, for which her family is extremely grateful.

Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Judy's name to the Activities Fund at the Inn at Atlantic Heights, 100 Harbor Dr., Saco ME, 04072 and Compassus Hospice, 163 US-1, Scarborough ME 04074.