Judith H. Safford

BARRE TOWN - Judy Safford of Dianne Lane in Barre Town received her angel wings on Friday, March 18, 2016 surrounded by her loving family in the Palliative Care Suite at CVMC.
Judy was born August 10, 1947 to Jeanette (Smith) and John P. Hooker in Barre, VT. She attended Lower Websterville Elementary School and was a 1965 graduate of Spaulding High School in Barre. On June 29, 1968 she married the love of her life Matt. After graduation Judy went to work for the State of VT, first for the Highway Department and later for the Education Department. She worked for many areas of the Education Department, but spent the bulk of her career working for Traffic Safety and Driver?s Education. Judy loved her work and was committed to the young drivers of the State of Vermont. She believed that Driver's Ed was as important as any “academic” area in schools and worked hard to keep it in our high schools. She earned many awards for her work in Driver's Ed, including VDTSEA's Lindsey Townsend Regional Award, the Jay Curtis Award, and the John Harvey Memorial Service Award. Judy retired from the State in 2010.
Judy was an amazing mentor to many children throughout her life. She was a Sunday school teacher, a Girl Scout leader, and an advisor for the VT Teen Leadership Safety Program. She loved her work with kids and especially loved getting ready for the fall Governor's Youth Leadership Conference. She loved the energy the kids gave her and the fun they would have the night before the conference, doing set up and staying up half the night. She would always get so excited in the weeks before the conference because she knew she would see “her” kids. She also loved hearing from kids she had mentored and learning of their accomplishments in life after high school.
In the warmer months Judy loved to garden, go camping at Stillwater State Park in Groton where she loved to sit by the lake and watch the loons, and kayak on VT's many lakes and ponds. She also loved to watch her daughter Karen play softball and developed a special relationship with the girls on Karen's Women's League team, the “Hooker” girls. During the colder months Judy loved to spend time doing her genealogy and playing board and card games (which she also loved to cheat at). She had a strong faith in God and was a member of the Barre Congregational Church where she was baptized and where she served on many committees. She was a volunteer at the Vermont History Center, and a former member of the South Barre Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary.
Judy is survived by her husband of 48 years Mathew “Matt” Safford, her daughter Kristina “Krisi” Safford, her daughter Karen Safford and her partner Lori Shepard, her sister Jackie Swartz and her husband Dr. Donald Swartz, her brother John “Joe” Hooker and his wife Cindy, her brother-in-law David Safford and his wife Sandy, sister-in-law Connie Spaulding and her husband Bob, brother-in-law Karl Safford and his wife Dale and sister-in-law Vicki Safford. She is also survived by her honorary daughters Beth Bresett and Jen Estivill, many nieces, nephews, and honorary grandchildren.
Judy was predeceased by her mother Jeanette Hooker, her father John P. Hooker III, her mother-in-law Marion (McKnight) Safford, father-in-law Hollis Safford, her sisters Margaret Rose Lee (Hooker) Merriam and Maidae Louise (Hooker) Merrill, and brother John Perry Hooker.
A service of remembrance and celebration will be at the Barre Congregational Church on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 11 AM. There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Barre Congregational Church Book of Remembrance or to the Barre Congregational Church scholarship fund at 35 Church St, Barre, VT 05641.