Judith S.

Judy’s Story - A Legacy of Love

As I open these boxes I’m filled with apprehension as the smell of fire fills my senses… and I am flooded with love and a profound sadness. These boxes make it all so suddenly real and the memory’s flood me with grief as how this all unfolded.

Judith was a true Irish rose born and raised in Ontario. She was the proudest oldest sister of 4 girls. Judy was a teacher, the kind of teacher that 60 year old past students still followed on Facebook. Her students still speak of the profound effect Ms Sharp had on their lives. These messages are the truest testament of love, and a reminder that not all teachers were created equally. Judith relocated to the North and fell in love with the place and the people. She transferred her love and dedication of teaching to ‘her’ apprentices in the role of Registrar of Apprenticeship Program of the Northwest Territories. She was that lady with the menagerie of animals both pets and wildlife drawn to her yard.

After retirement Judy suffered a nasopharyngeal cancer, which she later learned is specific to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that she, and many others teachers were exposed to over and over throughout their careers. This virus is directly linked to multiple sclerosis (MS), nasopharyngeal cancer, very specific lymphomas and stomach cancer. And largely responsible for the onset of myalgic encephalitis (ME/CFS) in so many.

Against all odds Judy beat this cancer and a few skin cancers along the way. She dedicated herself to her new found community, organizing fundraisers, Relays for Life and supporting her peers and their families on their cancer journey’s. She was also a dedicated and honoured member of the Red Hat Ladies and the Yellowknife Disability Council. Love and compassion came so naturally to Judy.

Judy had taken every precaution to remain healthy and managed to avoid SARS exposure until the historic 2023 Yellowknife, NWT evacuation.

That summer residence of Yellowknife experienced historic heat and were exposed to thick smoke for weeks prior to their evacuation. Because of the northern climate, most people do not have air conditioning. Tripling airfares made it impossible for many to evacuate prior to official order delivered on 16 August 2023. The tole this event took mentally, physically and emotionally on every person in that city is astounding! People functioned for days and weeks with a bag packed at the door waiting for that order. It’s terrifying.

Unfathomable Judy was one of the last groups evacuated having been there for 12 hours waiting before getting on a bus taken to the airport. After 18 hours, Judy finally arrived to her designated hotel in Calgary, AB with her dog Girlie and her possessions. She was not well, a diabetic, she had not eaten in 12 hours and her sugars were off. She was very weak and there was a despair in her voice I’d never heard before. Over the next couple of weeks, the hotel staff, pet care and community services came to her support and she started to get better and stronger.

Judy celebrated her 80th Birthday displaced in Calgary. She was feeling great that day and was completely tickled by the constant ringing of her phone. People were calling with best wishes and the front desk seemed to be calling every 10 minutes to tell her another parcel or flowers had arrived. In the morning, she had started to hear rumours about people being able to return to Yellowknife and this brought her great joy, a sense of hope maybe. That afternoon, she donned her Birthday Girl sash, sent to her by her grandson and namesake Albert, and went to collect the haul of flowers that came in from across the country. People in the hotel lobby noticed and sang her a happy birthday a multitude of times throughout the day. She met new people from Yellowknife, strangers wished her a happy birthday, bought her lunch, coffee and dinner. She was joyous!!

There was a COVID outbreak and Judy was exposed to the SARS virus. She was hospitalized shortly after her return to Yellowknife in September 2023 and then an out-patient for continued IV treatments. She would never regain her strength, and was shocked at how much she slept. Judy loved the north and loved the spring as her beloved ravens returned in force.

I called Judy on March 7, 2024 to tell her of the safe arrival of a great grandson! She was weak but elated!! She happily announced another granddaughter was expecting a babe in the summer. She said she had scheduled an appointment to see her doctor. Two days later, one of her friends called to tell me, they had gone by to deliver some groceries and found Judy on the floor. When they were able to get her up, but she was confused and disoriented. She was immediately taken to hospital. She was suffering, severe sepsis that quickly progressed to septic shock, source of infection COVID pneumonia.

Judith Alberta passed away 15th of March 2024 surrounded by her best friends and her family.

Our Sister
In the North. Judy found her place in the sun, and on top of the map. She loved Yellowknife and its people beyond measure. She was an eclectic, beautiful, honest, loving, fun filled, brilliant, brave, stubborn, fierce, (and infuriating at times) wonderful (and a bit eccentric) sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, great aunt, cousin, and friend. Judy loved to create artworks in various mediums, as well as paint. She had a voracious appetite for learning and reading. Her book collection is legendary. As are her jewellery, doll and plate collections, to name a few. She was also a dedicated football and hockey fan. If she was in the cheering section, you’d definitely hear her. Charitable to a fault. And humble. She had the most joyous laugh that was so infectious - one of the best on earth. Absolutely. Bar none!

She was a beautifully honest soul who we were honoured to have been related to. She had many hardships, as well as many health issues in her life. She handled them all with dignity, grace and aplomb. Never complaining or saying ‘why me?’ If you were her relative or friend consider yourself blessed.

Judy - You were Pure Joy. Pure Love. Pure Fun. Pure Kindness. But mostly, Always Love.
Wendy, Cheryl and Nancy

We know in our hearts, that you are okay
But damn how we wish you’d been able to stay
We know the ravens were circling that day
Grateful to guide you along the way
We hope for the honour to fly again with you someday.

Mario, Christine, Elaine, the Grands and the Greats

You can donate to Sepsis Education and Research in Judith’s name at https://www.canadiansepsisfoundation.ca/donate ❤️