Obituary of Judie Deluney

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Judith Elizabeth Deluney (Harvie) announce her sudden passing at the Saint John Regional Hospital on February 27 2024 at the age of 78.

Born in Halifax, NS on April 24, 1945; she was the daughter of the late Jean Kathleen Olesen (Garden) (Harvie) and Walter Eugene Harvie, and the wife of the late Joseph Michael Deluney. Along with her husband and parents, she is predeceased by her stepfather, Arne Olesen and by her brother-in-law, Ken Murray.

She will live on in the hearts of her children: Jodi Deluney (Pennie) of Sussex Corner and Tara Carman of Caloundra, Queensland, Australia; her sisters: Janet Murray, Picadilly and Karen Lewis (Vic), Cambridge, Ontario; her granddaughters: Shelby Deluney and Tasha Deluney of Saint John; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Judie met the love of her life, Joe, on a train to Montreal where they were to compete in the Canadian Canoeing Championships. They were married September 26, 1964 and together would build their lives and enjoy 45 years together.

She and Joe moved a lot throughout the 1970’s, as he was frequently transferred. When the time came, her superior organizational skills kicked in and she would pack everything up for the move. It was off to Moncton, next Newcastle, then Nashwaaksis/Fredericton, next Riverview, and then Toronto, and back to Riverview. Once she and Joe moved to Sussex that was it – Sussex was their final destination.

Judie worked at Woolworths and Woolco Department stores while the family lived in Riverview, but those tenures paled in comparison to the two decades she worked at Family Shoe Shoppes with her husband Joe. Judie always worked hard at everything she did. There was only one way to do something and that was the right way. She led by example and would often choose to do the hardest tasks herself.

Judie canoed competitively when she grew up in Dartmouth, later curled and golfed at the Sussex Golf & Curling Club, and more recently she looked forward to the card nights with ‘the girls’.

After she retired, she loved the many winters she spent with her great friend Gloria Wynter at Fairway Village in Largo, Florida and having both her sisters Karen and Janet just a few streets away was something she absolutely cherished. Judie loved to travel. She enjoyed many vacations with friends to the warm south, several cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, and made two big trips all the way to Australia to visit with daughter Tara. Though they were literally half a world away, Judie and Tara spoke on the phone every weekend.

She was a longtime member of Sussex Tops Club, Red Hat Society, the Sussex Health Centre Auxiliary, and Sussex Health Centre Gift Shop.

She was very talented at sewing, making a lot of her own clothes when she was younger. Still having her own sewing machine, it was not uncommon that she found herself making impromptu clothing adjustments when someone heard she could sew.

Judie was blessed with a seemingly endless number of good friends. The type of friends that would sing Happy Birthday social-distanced while waving balloons on her front lawn during covid – kind of amazing friends. She will be missed deeply by all those whose lives she touched.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, NB (506-433-1176)from where visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024 from 6-8pm. A celebration of Judy’s life will be held from St. Paul’s United Church on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 11:00am.

Donations in memory of Judie may be made to the Sussex Health Centre Auxiliary or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences to the family and donations may be made through wallacefuneralhome.com