JUDITH MARGARET GOODMAN (LAWSON)

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JUDITH MARGARET GOODMAN
(nee LAWSON)
March 24, 1947 - February 21, 2020

One month ago, on February 21, 2020, Judith Goodman, beloved mother of Kim, passed away, at the age of 72 years, at Riverview Heath Centre.
She is survived by her daughter, her sisters, Ailsa Zaenker of Vancouver and Elinor Lawson of Lethbridge, her sister-in-law Alicyn Goodman, as well as her nieces and nephew and numerous cousins.
She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Gerry in April 2017, her mother Dorothy Lawson (nee Greenway) in September 1992, and her father Arthur Lawson in January 1964.
Judith was an extraordinary person who was admired and loved by all who knew her - she was a cherished wife and mother, a devoted daughter, a dear friend to many, a compassionate teacher, and a talented pianist. She was known for being a kind and gentle woman, with a patient and calm demeanour, always there to listen and to help. Above all, she was loving towards everyone and unwavering in her devotion to Kim and Gerry. She enjoyed a remarkable 40+ year teaching career in the St. Vital/Louis Riel School Division, teaching both music and elementary grades, primarily grade 4. She spent 30 years teaching at Dr. D.W. Penner School and concluded her career at Niakwa Place, before being able to enjoy only eight short years of retirement. Throughout her teaching career, she made many lifelong friends and had a profound influence on generations of students. Judith was blessed with intelligence and musical talent, gifts inherited from both her parents, and she played the piano with expression and sensitivity. In recent years, she put those talents to use accompanying a women's choir called Fair Warning. She enjoyed spending time by herself and she was a whiz at doing cryptoquotes and crossword puzzles; she also loved to read and play solitaire. She loved her pets beyond measure and they loved her, especially Samoyed Par, and cats, Bailey and Milo. Her loss has left an emptiness that cannot be filled and she will be missed every day.
Special love and gratitude is extended to Judith's cousin, Linda Williams of New Westminster BC, whose fortuitously-timed visit in late January provided invaluable assistance to Judith, Kim and Alicyn. Thank you to all her friends - Frances, Morna, Joan, Anne and Heather among others - who came to visit and brought meals and treats. Thank you to our neighbour, Shirley, who was so gracious when called upon. Thank you to the Palliative Care program and the dedicated doctors, nurses, and aides at Riverview who provided such good care to Judith in her last days.
Given the current circumstances regarding COVID-19, Judith's service that was originally to be held March 28 has been postponed indefinitely, but will take place when it is once again permissible to gather. We look forward to being able to celebrate her life with her extended family and friends as soon as it is possible. Thank you so much to all of you who have already reached out to offer your condolences and your memories.
If you would like to honour Judith's memory, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society's Wheels of Hope program, the Winnipeg Humane Society, or any charity of your choice or just continue to look after others, as she would have done.

Love is how you stay alive,
even after you are gone. - Mitch Albom

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 21, 2020