Judith “Judy” E. (MacMullen) Crisanto, 83, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2020, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Judy was born on October 14, 1936, in Millinocket, Maine, the daughter of the late Joseph Percy and Margaret (Mitchell) MacMullen.
In addition to her parents, Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter Crisanto, her brothers John A. and James G. MacMullen, and her sisters Mary Constance MacMullen and Roberta (MacMullen) Henson. She is survived by her children Stefanie Crisanto of Sterling, Va., Carmela Crisanto of Pleasantville, N.J., Frank Crisanto of Saint Marys, Ga., seven grandchildren, her brother-in-law Frank R. Crisanto, her sister-in-law, Mary Lou Crisanto, numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and many close friends.
Judy was a graduate of St. Martin of Tours’ High School in Millinocket, Maine, and Mount Ida Junior College in Newton, Mass. Judy and Walter married in the summer of 1962 and resided in Freehold, N.J. where they raised their family. Judy’s card parties (canasta or bridge) and other home business parties (Tupperware, Avon, Amway) were legendary, but the summer pool parties were the best where friends and family could always count on good food, good drink, good fun and plenty of laughs.
Judy’s love of a good pool party carried through when the family moved to Southern Pines, N.C. Always ready with a pool noodle and beach towel in her car, Judy would enjoy an afternoon visit and quick swim at a friend’s pool and even ventured on occasion down the slide, always with a smile, a laugh and a story to tell.
Under her mother’s coaching, Judy honed her musical talents of voice and piano from a very young age through her entire adult life. Her musical gifts were shared with the choirs at both St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold, N.J. and St. Anthony of Padua’s Church in Southern Pines, N.C. Judy’s voice was renowned, and she was a much sought-after soloist for both weddings and funerals alike, as her rendition of ‘Ave Maria’ would bring the church to tears every time.
Judy was a ‘Mainiac’ to the core, no matter where she lived. She so loved her Maine heritage and over the years, enjoyed many trips back home to stay at a camp on the lake, visit with good friends, or later, to seek refuge and respite after the death of her husband. Judy often spoke of her many loves from her youth in Maine including her affinity for root beer, fiddleheads and the soulful calls of the loons.
Judy’s early career in the workplace started as a secretary at the U.S. Army Signal Material Support Agency at Fort Monmouth. She later did court transcription work at home when her children were young, then went on to excel as a medical transcriptionist for many doctors’ offices in both Freehold, N.J. and Pinehurst, N.C. After retirement, Judy continued to pursue many other passions like knitting and crocheting. Along with her love of a good card game, she mastered mahjong and gave many clubhouse members a run for their money.
Tremendous and heartfelt thanks go to the truly exceptional nurses at GraceMore Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Brunswick, Ga., who provided such great nursing care for Judy, but also provided a peaceful and compassionate environment during her final journey with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
While the current health crisis prevents us from gathering and remembering Judy at this time, the family is planning, instead, to gather and celebrate a life well-lived and well-loved sometime in the summer of 2021 with a funeral mass at St. Rose of Lima Church and interment of her ashes alongside her husband’s at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Freehold, N.J.
