Judith L. Cabral

Judith Lois Cabral of Princeton Junction, New Jersey died on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Born on March 2, 1943 in Bayonne, New Jersey, she was the youngest of Helen (Davis) Semancik and Anthony Semancik. She spent her childhood in Bayonne and then in Hasbrouck Heights of North Jersey. As a child, Judy enjoyed playing with dolls and delighted in the playhouse her father built her. She devoured Nancy Drew books. As a teen, she won many trophies as a championship bowler and played intramural basketball and volleyball, culminating in earning the best female athlete of her senior class. She was also a band majorette with adroit twirling skills. While in high school, Judy trained to be an executive secretary and, after graduation in 1960, she entered the workforce. She worked from then until her retirement in 2010, only taking time off to raise her four children.
In 1960, Judy met her husband Al (Albert) Cabral and they wed in 1965. While dating, they would go into Manhattan to dance "The Twist" at the Peppermint Lounge and, together, they once tried out to be contestants on Jeopardy! (with host Art Fleming) and got most every "question" correct (and, yet, they were rejected). Up on the Palisades of North Jersey, they frolicked at Palisades Park's amusements and entered Triumph road races with Judy's red TR4 convertible, which they later sold to buy a baby crib and baby equipment when first expecting.
Soon after marrying, they started a family where their four children - Kris, Tom, Brad, & Ali - were the focus. After settling in Princeton Junction over fifty years ago, Judy was always busy driving her "mom's taxi" by shuttling her kids to their myriad of activities like scout meetings, music and dance lessons, and sports practices and games. In particular, she was the founder of the Kickers soccer league for five to seven year olds and the gala program manager for the Wildcats pee-wee football league. Best of all, she was a hands-on parent who taught her children well, always helping them with their homework, caring for their health and well-being, and encouraging them in whatever endeavors they took on.
Above all, Judy was the most loving mother and grandmother. Nothing made her more proud than the accomplishments of her four children and eleven grandchildren. She always welcomed her family back to their childhood home in Princeton Junction and made many, many trips to visit her out-of-state children when they lived in such places as Maryland, Virginia, Texas, and even Paris, France. Prior to this, when her children were young, the family drove in their station wagon to all forty-eight of the contiguous U.S. states, six provinces in Canada, and into Mexico. She made several trips to the state of Hawaii and finally visited Alaska, therefore visiting every state in the country. Judy and Al also enjoyed travel in their later years to Myrtle Beach, Ireland and France, and Cape Cod (where they honeymooned).
Notably, the highlight of her career was to serve as an executive secretary in the Office of the President at Princeton University in One Nassau Hall for almost 25 years. She kept the wheels of the university turning with her sharp mind and excellent organizational skills, all while being the friendly and helpful face to members of the public, the famous, and the university community.
Judy was always astute and a very keen observer and wise commentator, especially as to news from a young age - so much so that her comment about Soviet household products at age 16 was quoted on the front page of the New York Times. Furthermore, most every one of her letters to the editor of newspapers and magazines was published. She loved investigative journalism.
Judy greatly enjoyed all things trivia-related: religiously watching Jeopardy!, enjoying Cash Cab, playing Trivial Pursuit, completing New York Times crossword puzzles, and even attending trivia nights at an Irish pub while visiting her daughter in Austin, Texas. She always enjoyed discussing and analyzing current events with her family and friends. Moreover, she spent many hours of her retirement completing 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, primarily of Americana scenes or collages of pop culture.
Furthermore, she adored music, a love she imparted to her children. Judy always hummed when going up the stairs in her home, rocked to any song with a good beat, and held out "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin as her favorite tune. She was a member of the first teen generation of rock-n-roll.
Judy is survived by children Kristin (Joe), Thomas (Kate), Bradley, and Alison (Sean); grandchildren William, Jacqueline, Anthony, Laura, Rose, Maria, Julia, Fiona, Timothy, Simon, and Meghan. She is predeceased by her husband, her parents, her only sibling Marjorie (whom she greatly missed since her passing), and daughter-in-law Jessica.
Calling hours for family and friends will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home 40 Vandeventer Avenue Princeton, NJ 08542.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., at St. David the King Church 1 Village Road Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.
Burial will follow at Princeton Memorial Park Robbinsville, NJ.
Donations of baby formula and baby diapers in her memory can be made to your local charity.