Judith Irene Jennings

Judith Irene "Judi" Jennings, age 78, of Newberg, Oregon, passed away on Friday, May 20th, 2022, with her loving husband, children and much of her family by her side.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, on April 28th, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Henry Paul Haladay and Mary Catherine (LeBlanc) Haladay and was raised in Wakefield, MA, along with her two brothers Edward and Robert.

Judi graduated from Wakefield High School in 1962. More than forty years later, in 2003, she graduated magna cum laude from Stonehill College, in Massachusetts, with a BA in Psychology, where she was also the valedictorian of the night school division.

She was married on August 2nd, 1974, in Massachusetts to the man of her dreams, Ralph Dean Jennings. Dean has been the absolute love of her life, her best friend and constant companion. Together they raised three children, two daughters, Victoria (Strong) and Rebekah (Meadows), and son, Paul.

Judi was a woman of incredible talents. Like her desire to go back to school to earn her college degree, when she did something she put everything into it. Starting when she was a young woman, she became well known for her musical abilities across a range of genres. Over the years she sang in numerous musical groups, choirs, and solos. She was also an incredible artist with an ability that seemed to have no bounds. She painted, sculpted, carved wood and stone and enjoyed all forms of craft and handiwork. Her love, compassion, and ability to see and find beauty in all things lives on in the works of art that she has shared with so many.

In her later years, she and Dean began making jams, jellies, pickles of all sorts and almost anything else that could be pickled or jarred. She had a knack for creating things that were delicious. Which, "delicious", was one of her favorite words. Almost everything that they made together came from what they grew together in their backyard. Judi truly had a green thumb. Every Christmas, you could expect to get jam and pickles along with one of her beautiful hats, scarves, or blankets that she crocheted.

Judi is known in many ways: Wife, Mom, Nana, Great Nana, and loving Friend. She will be dearly missed by her husband, children, 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, brothers, extended family, and many dear and close friends. Among her circle of friends includes those from her childhood in Wakefield that she stayed in regular contact with, friends from Taunton, and several who often referred to her as their "second mom". As one of those friends put it, Judi was admired for her loving heart, her generous spirit and how she kept her friendships alive.

Our family would like to extend a very special thanks and sincere appreciation to the nursing staff, doctors, and other staff members of Providence Newberg Medical Center. During the final days of Judi's life, they gracefully cared for her, as well as her family, with the compassion and dignity she so deeply deserved.

A celebration of life will be held at the Nut Tree Ranch Community Center, 2902 E. 2nd street, Newberg, OR, on July 16th, 2022, at 4:00 pm. Family and friends are welcome to attend.