AUBURN — Judith Faye (Edgecomb) Benoit of Manchester passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 24, at Clover Health Care, in Auburn, where she received exemplary, attentive care for 40 months, challenged 15 years by Alzheimer’s and five years of kidney failure. She was a 36-year breast cancer survivor after surgery. Before her demise, the family gathered at Clover Health Care to celebrate the thoughtful way she lived her life.

Judy was born Aug. 4, 1939 in Limington, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Elinor Edgecomb. She graduated from Limington Academy and attended Nason College in Springvale and Northeastern Business College in Portland. Following completion of studies, she was secretary to the administrator of Mercy Hospital, Portland.

On June 10, 1961, Judy married John Benoit of Eliot, following his graduation from Portland University School of Law, and passage of the Maine bar exams. That wedding occurred at the Congregational Church in Limington. A second marriage was celebrated in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Augusta, on April 28, 1966.

Judy was an all-seasons sports doer! She enjoyed riding her pinto, “Trigger;” beach sports at her grandmother Eva Blake’s cottage on Sebago Lake; sailing John’s home-built “Pelican” class-craft on Sebago and Rangeley Lakes; also biking and hiking. Judy was an accomplished basketball player at Limington Academy, earning a scholarship to Nason College, Springvale. Additionally, she excelled at Alpine and Nordic skiing, on slopes and trails in Maine and New Hampshire. Judy and John played golf well into their 70s, at northeastern courses and links in the Carolinas. Judy was long off the tee and even scored a hole-in-one at Rangeley’s Mingo Springs, par three, fourth hole. Judy loved Mingo links, regularly walking 36 holes daily was par for her. She earned a share of golf club awards in the sport. Her children and grandchildren loved Judy’s “deep doing” over “deep thinking.” During an 18-year span, Judy and John motored to Sunset Beach, N.C., for a month, in fall and spring seasons, enjoyed at unforgettable Copeland’s Gull Ridge Cottage on the town’s adjacent island. During many of those years, the children and grandchildren formed auto caravans for wonderful times.

Judy was a devoted stay-at-home mom. In the early years, the family spent weekends at Judy’s parents’ Limington home, coupled with housing of chick incubators at Edgecomb’s Hatchery. Tending cats, dogs, picking up eggs and flying kites was busy. Judy’s mom, Eleanor, was town clerk, treasurer, tax collector, church choir director, etc. and dad, Ken (alias “Pa”), was busy hatching chicks for distribution in southern Maine and New Hampshire. Yearly, Pa and “Uncle Senter Shaw” of Gorham led fishing and deer hunting jaunts 65 miles on the American Realty Road out of Limestone, and in the hills and valleys around Sugarloaf Mountain. Yearly seasons spent at the family camp on Beaver Mountain Lake in Sandy River Plantation, south of Rangeley Village, were prized. Moose bedded down on the lawn at night were welcome. Bobcats on the yard’s winter snow, as well.

When the children reached high-school grades at Mt. Blue, Judy obtained employment in Dr. Jan Robert’s busy chiropractic clinic in Farmington where she worked several years, achieving state and national radiographer certification. Subsequently, she worked at the University of Maine at Farmington campus, processing education materials to Maine educators. Judy exhibited lifelong inner means of support, warm caring for everyone she met. Husband John credits Judy for inspiring him to devise “A Pussy Cat Award Card” offered to young and old, evidencing inner strength of care.

Judy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Judge John Benoit (deputy AG, state senator) son, Dr. David Benoit and wife, Anita, of Readfield; daughter Ann Jurczynski and husband John of Holderness, N.H.; daughter Lynne Vachon, Wells, and Somersworth, N. H., sister Bonnie Baltes, of N. Windham, and sister Darlene Edgecomb and husband David of Windham; six grandchildren, Ryan and Benjamin Benoit of Manchester; Keegan and Emily Rasmussen of Plymouth, N.H.; and Grace and Leo Vachon of Somersworth, N.H.

Condolences, memories, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

Judy Faye Benoit