Longtime Chester Resident Judith Gail Passed Away

CHESTER, NJ — Judith Gail (Sheehan) Tully, 72, of Chester, NJ, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at home. Judith was born on October 6, 1944, in North Adams, MA, to the late William and C. Sylvia Sheehan. She lived in Chester for 38 years. Judy graduated valedictorian Class of 1961 from St. Joseph’s High School, North Adams, MA, and from the College of New Rochelle with a B.A. in Spanish.

Judy began her career as a systems programmer at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan. It was there that she met Bill, her husband of more than 50 years, with whom she lovingly raised four children. Judy worked at Carteret Savings Bank, Prudential Life Insurance and retired as a manager of computer systems development from AT&T in 2001.

Judy enjoyed traveling and visited more than 60 countries with family and friends. She read voraciously, practiced amateur genealogy and created beautiful works of art with her prodigious gift for sewing, needlepoint and knitting. Her work adorns the homes of her beloved extended family and friends, as well as the baptismal bibs of many parishioners at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Chester.

For 38 years, Judy was a communicant of St. Lawrence, where she also taught English as a second language. She was an active member of two book clubs.
Judy is survived by her husband, William Dobbins Tully, daughters Courtney G. Tully McGrath (Michael) of Manchester, NH, Cynthia M. Tully of Brooklyn, NY; Pamela M. Tully (Gregory Recine) of Rutherford, NJ, and son William D. Tully, Jr. (Susan) of Mountain Lakes, NJ; four grandchildren, Daniel McGrath, Hannah McGrath, Theodore Recine and Madeline Recine, and a grandson on the way. Judy is also survived by her very dear cousins, Maxyne, Joan and Jean Schneider, all of whom are Sisters of St. Joseph. Judy was predeceased by her parents and her beloved sister Mary Claire May in 2008.

A Celebration of Judy’s life will include a visitation from 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, May 14, 2017 at the William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Road (Corner of Rt. 206), Chester, NJ (908) 879-3090. An 11 am funeral mass will be held on Monday, May 15, at St. Lawrence Church in Chester. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104-9905.

For online condolences and information, visit www.leberfuneralhome.com.