Obituary of Judith Elaine Seal
Judith Elaine Seal, (Judy), passed away Monday, January 8, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona.
Our sweet mom was born in Evansville, Indiana on July 14, 1941. Her family moved out west to Arizona when she was a young teenager. She and her four siblings had Catholic school educations and she would recall, with gratitude, how this upbringing taught her to have a great work ethic. She rarely missed a day once she began her first job at Pima County Hospital on south 6th Avenue. How she did this, raising four children, was quite an accomplishment. She turned that first job into a career as a well-respected Certified Pharmacy Technician. At 62 Mom retired from the St. Joseph’s Hospital pharmacy where she would return as a volunteer to process all of the pharmacy’s billing for several more years.
Mom enjoyed tending to her home and hosted many family gatherings. She always had music on and enjoyed dancing (she could cut a rug!), joking around, and singing in the church choir. She was not afraid to get her hands dirty and loved working in her yards. Her last home on Rosewood was full of native trees and plants and she decorated it with her collection of bird feeders and antiques from stores she often visited with family and friends. When Mom lived in Oregon, she dabbled in small-scale homesteading where she helped maintain a large plentiful vegetable garden, raised chickens, a cow, a few pigs, and learned canning.
Some of her favorite things to do were hiking, home show tours with her siblings, sketching, and tole painting. Later in life she enjoyed traveling to jazz music festivals throughout the southwest with her partner.
Judy loved her family and personally cared for both parents during their final years of life as well as cared for her older sister when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. All the rooms of her home were covered with thoughtful photo arrangements of close and extended family. She was a dog-lover and had many lucky canine companions through the years for whom she baked home-made treats. She was a good neighbor, and the go-to lady for walking your dog if you were blessed enough to know her.
A favorite place of Mom’s was Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, AZ which she often visited after returning to her faith later in life. That faith, as well as her sense of humor would help lift her spirits in sorrowful or difficult times.
Ok… let’s not forget her children! (Ohhh dear! Smile!) No matter where each one of us moved throughout our lives, Mom visited as often as she could. A fond memory of Maggie’s is when Mom was 60 years old, she came out to Seattle for a visit and spent much time up a 10 foot-ladder helping paint the very top of her two-story home! Mom was also present for her grandson Frankie’s birth. A childhood memory of Terri's is when she and Mom would sit at the kitchen table rolling-out dough for the delicious tortillas Mom made. Terri appreciated that Mom wanted to accompany her to her ballroom competitions and would jump right out there and take pictures. Mom didn’t merely sit and watch her daughter dance. She was always asked to get up and learn a few new steps. Mom also enjoyed hangin’ at Terri and Phil’s place over the past 25 years. She would come over and say, “Ok, put me to work!” She loved it out there because it was peaceful and quiet, away from the city. Mom fully supported her son, Harry, throughout his life and military career. And of course, she supported her beloved son, Gilbert, through his life struggles.
Over the last seven or so years of her life Mom had hearing loss and progressive memory decline. To witness her endure this confusing frightening disease was heartbreaking. We are thankful she is safe in the arms of her dear loving God.
Judy is survived by daughters Teresa Louise Gomez Rice and Margaret Eileen Gomez, son Harry James Gomez, grandson Franklin James Gomez-Beezhold, sister Barbara Ann Boyer, brother James Anthony Seal, and partner Patrick Desmond.
Mom is predeceased by her sweet, beautiful son Gilbert Alan Gomez, parents James Michael and Olivia Ann Seal, sister Patricia Ann Mashburn, and brother Lawrence Michael Seal.
FUNERAL MASS
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Joseph Parish (in the small chapel on the east side of the church). Enter through the Admin Office. 215 S. Craycroft, Tucson, AZ 85711
In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, in honor of Judith E. Seal. www.alz.org/dsw
