Obituary of Judith Ann (Love) Neilson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Judith Ann Neilson (Judy) on Friday, August 11^th, 2023, at the age of 76. A beacon of love, laughter and generosity, Judith peacefully passed away with her three sons by her bedside at the Moncton Hospital. 

Born on November 5, 1946, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, she was the daughter of the late Gavin Barr Love and Marion Frances (Richter). 

Judith will be fondly remembered as the loving mother to Gavin Neilson, Barry & Jan Neilson, and Brian Neilson & Barbra Clayton; the loving sister to Gavin Love & the late Charlotte Love; the loving aunt to Joshua Love; and the loving grandmother to Noah Steeves, Emma Neilson, Natasha Steeves, and John Neilson. 

Judith was an avid baseball fan, read books prolifically, and adored spending time with family, especially her four grandchildren. Her love for, and devotion to, her children demanded that she sacrifice her dream job of being an elementary school teacher to return to university to enable herself to care for them as a single mother. She was successful in creating a better life for her family when they all moved from Windsor, Ontario to Ottawa, Ontario in 1978, in order for her to take up a position as a financial systems analyst. 

As a lifelong churchgoer, Judith both received from and gave back to the Presbyterian congregations she was a part of, beginning with St. Andrew’s, Windsor; then as an elder, Sunday School teacher, and treasurer with St. David & St. Martin’s, Ottawa; and lastly as part of St. Andrew’s, Sackville. 

The abundance Judith enjoyed in later life came from the wealth of joy and laughter she received by living near Noah and Natasha and helping to raise Emma and John. She got to be a teacher again by instilling her love of reading in Emma and she relished every afternoon running errands around Sackville with John by her side. She leaves an indelible impression on all the lives she touched and paths she crossed. 

The family wants to thank Dr. Catherine Johnston, Dr. Amir Umar, and Dr. Sarah Thomas, as well as all the nurses and staff of Sackville Memorial Hospital who cared for her over the years and in her final weeks. They would also like to express their appreciation for the care and kindness she received during her last days at the Moncton Hospital. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Erin Campbell and the staff of Campbell’s Funeral Home, 89 Bridge Street, Sackville N.B. (506) 364-8188. Cremation has taken place with a memorial celebration planned for the first weekend of November with details to follow.

If so desired, donations in memory of Judith can be made to the Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation or Friends of The Moncton Hospital.

On-line condolences and sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family through our website www.campbellsfuneralhome.com or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.