Obituary for Judith Ann Weitzen (McLaughlin)
Judy Weitzen, 86, of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, died peacefully from renal failure at The McCarthy Care Center in East Sandwich on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
She was born Judith Ann McLaughlin on May 22, 1936, in Cambridge, MA, to Emily (née Boudreau) and William McLaughlin. Judy soon became big sister to Nancy, born in January 1938, and then Jane, born in March 1942.
Judy adored both of her sisters and took on the role of nurturing them (and playing the “straight woman” to their often-outrageous, absurdist humor and eccentricities) with joy and aplomb. Judy and Nancy were both cheerleaders at Arlington High School and remembered their school cheers until their final days, often singing them together well into their 80s.
Judy loved music, theater, and dance and entered Emerson College in the fall of 1954 to pursue theatrical set and costume design. Her liberal arts studies fostered an interest in speech therapy, a degree she pursued until she left school to get married and start a family.
She married Paul Brennan in 1956 following his college graduation and entrance into the Air Force. His service required continuous moves from base to base around the country for several years. Judy became a consummate packer and fully embraced her role as a homemaker and, in May 1957, mother to Deborah Nancy (Debbie) born in Oklahoma City. Next came Leslie Elizabeth, born in August 1958 in Denver, Colorado, a place Judy especially loved for its fresh air, sunshine, and mountain views.
Once Paul left the service, the family moved back to Massachusetts, settling in Marblehead and expanding again with Julianne, born in Salem in May 1963. Later that year, they moved to Huntington, NY, where their fourth daughter Kathryn Ellen (Katy) was born in March 1966.
As Judy said many times throughout her life—including in her final days in hospice—she “loved every minute of having babies and being a mother.” She excelled in the role, volunteering at her girls’ schools, leading brownie troops, hosting parties, and making famously elaborate Halloween costumes for the whole family. Judy’s sense of occasion and creativity (inspired by her mother, Emily, and sister Jane, both artists) made holidays —and even some weeknight meals—a treat for all the senses.
Judy also supported Paul in the launch of brennan, his tabletop, cookware, and giftware store on New York Avenue in Huntington. After they split up, Judy met Russ Weitzen. Russ owned the Clog Shop, a trend-setting spot also on New York Avenue. Judy soon joined Russ in running the store, popular not only for clogs (a new item at the time) but also Kork-Ease, imported French jeans, artisan fashions, and denim skirts, some of which Judy and her daughters made by hand. At this time, Judy also volunteered as “wardrobe mistress” for the Orlando Ballet, a local troupe that included her daughters Debbie and Julianne as principal dancers.
Judy and Russ enjoyed regular shopping trips to NYC to discover new designers and enjoy dining out as well as performances by the New York City Ballet and their favorite musicians, including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria. Judy’s eclectic musical tastes included rock, blues, and soul and helped make her one of the undisputed coolest Moms in all her daughters’ social circles.
Judy and Russ went on to open and run Rusty’s Shoe Parlor in Northport, NY for over a decade. Their work and life partnership would last nearly 50 years. They worked, played, and made a wonderful life together, remaining affectionate and devoted to one another to her final day. Theirs has been a sweet, enduring love story.
Love was Judy’s life purpose. Everything she did was, in essence, an act of love for her family and for all their friends. Judy’s home was a refuge and a haven, a place to gather, celebrate, listen to music, dance, laugh, eat, and, if needed for however long, to stay. Judy loved animals, and they loved her back. She and Russ named their affectionate cockatoo Lovey and their intensely sweet cat (one among many, plus a dog) Romeo.
When her mother-in-law developed Alzheimer’s, Judy became her full-time caregiver, moving to Coral Gables, Florida and then Hendersonville, NC to care for her. When her daughter Debbie passed away in 1994 at the age of 36, Judy (a parent losing a child; grieving from a loss so great, we have no word for it) turned her attention to caring for family even more ardently. To be closer to family upon the arrival of her first grandchild—Leslie’s daughter Emma Kowalchuk—she moved back to the Northeast, choosing a pond-front home on Cape Cod where family and friends could gather to enjoy summers on the water.
When Judy’s dear sister Jane was diagnosed with ALS in July of 2007, Judy devoted herself entirely to her care, effectively moving to Ithaca, NY for a year to be by Jane’s side until her death in July 2008.
Judy and Russ enjoyed well over 20 years on Cape Cod, taking in the area’s natural beauty, attending concerts at The Melody Tent, taking up pickleball, and joining drum circles.
After many years of successfully managing her hypertension, Judy suffered a stroke in June of 2018, receiving excellent care at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Spaulding Rehab in Sandwich, and JML in Falmouth. Fortunately, with the care and support of Russ and her daughter Julianne, Judy was able to live another four years—including a year and half on dialysis—in the comfort of her own home.
Though Judy developed dementia along with renal failure following her stroke, her sweetness and good nature became even more amplified. She was remarkably patient and accepting of her memory loss and seemed to find renewed pleasure in every moment of discovering—and rediscovering—the simple beauty of a beautiful day, a song, or a flower.
Nearly every day, she expressed love for her family and gratitude for her life.
Just days before Judy’s sister, Nancy McLaughlin, died in Newburyport, MA in November 2021, the two sisters were able to enjoy one last day of adventure, exploring Nancy’s favorite local spots, sharing stories, singing songs and, as always, cheers. Nancy left Judy with the gifts she bestowed on her older sister throughout their lives: laughter and fun. In her final days, Judy recited some of Nancy’s favorite absurdist (and somewhat scatological) ditties, making everyone at hospice laugh.
Judy spent a little over a week at The McCarthy Care Center Hospice, where her family—including Russ, her daughers Leslie, Julianne, and Katy, her niece (Jane’s daughter) Penny Krainin, her son-in-law, Ed Kowalchuk, her granddaughters, Emma and Janie Kowalchuk, and Katy’s partner, Tom Stenerson, were able to sit with Judy in the sun (something she always loved to do) sing songs, tell jokes and stories, and say Goodbye to an especially dear, sweet, loving person. Judy remained beautiful to her last breath.
Judy’s wish was to have her ashes—along with those of her two sisters—scattered on the ocean off the Headlands in Rockport, MA, where they all spent summers and lived for a time as children and where Nancy and their mother Emily lived for many years. Emily’s ashes were spread there in the summer of 2004. The family will gather for that memorial sometime in the late summer or fall 2022 but there will be no other service or formal gathering at this time.
All wishing to share memories of, or tributes to, Judy are encouraged to do so here on this tribute page.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The McCarthy Care Center. Checks may be made out to The McCarthy Care Center, “In memory of Judy Weitzen” on the memo line, mailed to McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.
She was born Judith Ann McLaughlin on May 22, 1936, in Cambridge, MA, to Emily (née Boudreau) and William McLaughlin. Judy soon became big sister to Nancy, born in January 1938, and then Jane, born in March 1942.
Judy adored both of her sisters and took on the role of nurturing them (and playing the “straight woman” to their often-outrageous, absurdist humor and eccentricities) with joy and aplomb. Judy and Nancy were both cheerleaders at Arlington High School and remembered their school cheers until their final days, often singing them together well into their 80s.
Judy loved music, theater, and dance and entered Emerson College in the fall of 1954 to pursue theatrical set and costume design. Her liberal arts studies fostered an interest in speech therapy, a degree she pursued until she left school to get married and start a family.
She married Paul Brennan in 1956 following his college graduation and entrance into the Air Force. His service required continuous moves from base to base around the country for several years. Judy became a consummate packer and fully embraced her role as a homemaker and, in May 1957, mother to Deborah Nancy (Debbie) born in Oklahoma City. Next came Leslie Elizabeth, born in August 1958 in Denver, Colorado, a place Judy especially loved for its fresh air, sunshine, and mountain views.
Once Paul left the service, the family moved back to Massachusetts, settling in Marblehead and expanding again with Julianne, born in Salem in May 1963. Later that year, they moved to Huntington, NY, where their fourth daughter Kathryn Ellen (Katy) was born in March 1966.
As Judy said many times throughout her life—including in her final days in hospice—she “loved every minute of having babies and being a mother.” She excelled in the role, volunteering at her girls’ schools, leading brownie troops, hosting parties, and making famously elaborate Halloween costumes for the whole family. Judy’s sense of occasion and creativity (inspired by her mother, Emily, and sister Jane, both artists) made holidays —and even some weeknight meals—a treat for all the senses.
Judy also supported Paul in the launch of brennan, his tabletop, cookware, and giftware store on New York Avenue in Huntington. After they split up, Judy met Russ Weitzen. Russ owned the Clog Shop, a trend-setting spot also on New York Avenue. Judy soon joined Russ in running the store, popular not only for clogs (a new item at the time) but also Kork-Ease, imported French jeans, artisan fashions, and denim skirts, some of which Judy and her daughters made by hand. At this time, Judy also volunteered as “wardrobe mistress” for the Orlando Ballet, a local troupe that included her daughters Debbie and Julianne as principal dancers.
Judy and Russ enjoyed regular shopping trips to NYC to discover new designers and enjoy dining out as well as performances by the New York City Ballet and their favorite musicians, including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria. Judy’s eclectic musical tastes included rock, blues, and soul and helped make her one of the undisputed coolest Moms in all her daughters’ social circles.
Judy and Russ went on to open and run Rusty’s Shoe Parlor in Northport, NY for over a decade. Their work and life partnership would last nearly 50 years. They worked, played, and made a wonderful life together, remaining affectionate and devoted to one another to her final day. Theirs has been a sweet, enduring love story.
Love was Judy’s life purpose. Everything she did was, in essence, an act of love for her family and for all their friends. Judy’s home was a refuge and a haven, a place to gather, celebrate, listen to music, dance, laugh, eat, and, if needed for however long, to stay. Judy loved animals, and they loved her back. She and Russ named their affectionate cockatoo Lovey and their intensely sweet cat (one among many, plus a dog) Romeo.
When her mother-in-law developed Alzheimer’s, Judy became her full-time caregiver, moving to Coral Gables, Florida and then Hendersonville, NC to care for her. When her daughter Debbie passed away in 1994 at the age of 36, Judy (a parent losing a child; grieving from a loss so great, we have no word for it) turned her attention to caring for family even more ardently. To be closer to family upon the arrival of her first grandchild—Leslie’s daughter Emma Kowalchuk—she moved back to the Northeast, choosing a pond-front home on Cape Cod where family and friends could gather to enjoy summers on the water.
When Judy’s dear sister Jane was diagnosed with ALS in July of 2007, Judy devoted herself entirely to her care, effectively moving to Ithaca, NY for a year to be by Jane’s side until her death in July 2008.
Judy and Russ enjoyed well over 20 years on Cape Cod, taking in the area’s natural beauty, attending concerts at The Melody Tent, taking up pickleball, and joining drum circles.
After many years of successfully managing her hypertension, Judy suffered a stroke in June of 2018, receiving excellent care at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Spaulding Rehab in Sandwich, and JML in Falmouth. Fortunately, with the care and support of Russ and her daughter Julianne, Judy was able to live another four years—including a year and half on dialysis—in the comfort of her own home.
Though Judy developed dementia along with renal failure following her stroke, her sweetness and good nature became even more amplified. She was remarkably patient and accepting of her memory loss and seemed to find renewed pleasure in every moment of discovering—and rediscovering—the simple beauty of a beautiful day, a song, or a flower.
Nearly every day, she expressed love for her family and gratitude for her life.
Just days before Judy’s sister, Nancy McLaughlin, died in Newburyport, MA in November 2021, the two sisters were able to enjoy one last day of adventure, exploring Nancy’s favorite local spots, sharing stories, singing songs and, as always, cheers. Nancy left Judy with the gifts she bestowed on her older sister throughout their lives: laughter and fun. In her final days, Judy recited some of Nancy’s favorite absurdist (and somewhat scatological) ditties, making everyone at hospice laugh.
Judy spent a little over a week at The McCarthy Care Center Hospice, where her family—including Russ, her daughers Leslie, Julianne, and Katy, her niece (Jane’s daughter) Penny Krainin, her son-in-law, Ed Kowalchuk, her granddaughters, Emma and Janie Kowalchuk, and Katy’s partner, Tom Stenerson, were able to sit with Judy in the sun (something she always loved to do) sing songs, tell jokes and stories, and say Goodbye to an especially dear, sweet, loving person. Judy remained beautiful to her last breath.
Judy’s wish was to have her ashes—along with those of her two sisters—scattered on the ocean off the Headlands in Rockport, MA, where they all spent summers and lived for a time as children and where Nancy and their mother Emily lived for many years. Emily’s ashes were spread there in the summer of 2004. The family will gather for that memorial sometime in the late summer or fall 2022 but there will be no other service or formal gathering at this time.
All wishing to share memories of, or tributes to, Judy are encouraged to do so here on this tribute page.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The McCarthy Care Center. Checks may be made out to The McCarthy Care Center, “In memory of Judy Weitzen” on the memo line, mailed to McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.