Obituary for Judith Ann Stevens
Judith Ann (Melcher) Stevens of Salem, MA. passed away on March 31, 2023, surrounded by family and loved ones. Judy is survived by her husband, William Stevens, of Salem and her children, Jennifer Spatz and husband, Mark of Bellevue, WA; William (Brad) Stevens and wife Veronica of Washington, DC; and Ned Stevens and partner Lori of Essex, MA. Cherished grandmother of Billy, Sean, Dylan and Rhys Stevens; Elliot and Arlene Spatz; Haley, Abbie, Aidan and Harrison Greenslade.
Judy is also survived by her sister Ruthie Parker and her husband Jud; her brothers, the late William Melcher, and his wife Karen, and the late Lewis Melcher, and his wife Jeannette; sister, Tina Pozzi and husband Alberto, and sister Mimi Underwood and husband Paul, along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to raising three children, Judy was very active and productive in her husband’s career as a CIA officer. The couple served eighteen years abroad—Germany; Vietnam/Taiwan; Holland; Norway; Austria; and Turkey.
While in Turkey, Judy established a firm which exported Turkish products, mainly carpets and kilims, to the United States. Her main client was the Christmas Tree Shops. She continued that successful business when she returned to the U.S. With her background in carpets and kilims, Judy also landed a job at an antique shop on Dupont Circle in Washington DC, and then later at a high-end West Village antique shop while living in New York City.
In 1994, Judy and Bill began another chapter in their lives. They converted a 1913 Greek revival house into a world class Bed and Breakfast in downtown Plymouth, MA. She ran the B&B until that business got in the way of her golf, tennis, and yoga. With the sale of the B&B in 2004, life again changed for Judy and Bill. They had their long-time family cottage on Cape Cod Bay demolished and built a four-bedroom home, and they also became snowbirds with the purchase of another house in Florida. For Judy, this chapter involved more golf, tennis, yoga, and new cherished friendships.
Judy remained close to her sisters, enjoying time on their special sister get-aways. They certainly knew how to enjoy their time together! Judy also enjoyed some fun trips organized by her daughter’s travel business, joining her groups on trips to India and Costa Rica.
Judy was blessed with a full, active, and adventuresome life. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 11AM at Our Lady of Sorrow Church at 59 Cottage Street, Sharon, MA 02067. If you cannot attend the memorial mass, it will be live streamed from the church, to listen virtually: https://olossharon.org/
A reception will follow the Mass at the Lake Pearl beginning at 12:30 pm. Address is: 299 Creek St., Wrentham, MA
Interment following the reception will be at the Nemasket Cemetery 515 Plymouth Street, Middleboro, MA for those who wishes to attend. 02346. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in loving memory of Judy Stevens to support breast cancer research and patient care.
Online gift donation link: http://dana-farber.org/gift
Please note that your gift is intended for breast cancer research and made in memory of Judy Stevens on the memo line. To give by mail, please send a check payable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445. Please include Judy Stevens on the memo line.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lane Funeral Home, Winchester, MA. For online condolences, please see www.lanefuneral.com.
Judy is also survived by her sister Ruthie Parker and her husband Jud; her brothers, the late William Melcher, and his wife Karen, and the late Lewis Melcher, and his wife Jeannette; sister, Tina Pozzi and husband Alberto, and sister Mimi Underwood and husband Paul, along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to raising three children, Judy was very active and productive in her husband’s career as a CIA officer. The couple served eighteen years abroad—Germany; Vietnam/Taiwan; Holland; Norway; Austria; and Turkey.
While in Turkey, Judy established a firm which exported Turkish products, mainly carpets and kilims, to the United States. Her main client was the Christmas Tree Shops. She continued that successful business when she returned to the U.S. With her background in carpets and kilims, Judy also landed a job at an antique shop on Dupont Circle in Washington DC, and then later at a high-end West Village antique shop while living in New York City.
In 1994, Judy and Bill began another chapter in their lives. They converted a 1913 Greek revival house into a world class Bed and Breakfast in downtown Plymouth, MA. She ran the B&B until that business got in the way of her golf, tennis, and yoga. With the sale of the B&B in 2004, life again changed for Judy and Bill. They had their long-time family cottage on Cape Cod Bay demolished and built a four-bedroom home, and they also became snowbirds with the purchase of another house in Florida. For Judy, this chapter involved more golf, tennis, yoga, and new cherished friendships.
Judy remained close to her sisters, enjoying time on their special sister get-aways. They certainly knew how to enjoy their time together! Judy also enjoyed some fun trips organized by her daughter’s travel business, joining her groups on trips to India and Costa Rica.
Judy was blessed with a full, active, and adventuresome life. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 11AM at Our Lady of Sorrow Church at 59 Cottage Street, Sharon, MA 02067. If you cannot attend the memorial mass, it will be live streamed from the church, to listen virtually: https://olossharon.org/
A reception will follow the Mass at the Lake Pearl beginning at 12:30 pm. Address is: 299 Creek St., Wrentham, MA
Interment following the reception will be at the Nemasket Cemetery 515 Plymouth Street, Middleboro, MA for those who wishes to attend. 02346. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in loving memory of Judy Stevens to support breast cancer research and patient care.
Online gift donation link: http://dana-farber.org/gift
Please note that your gift is intended for breast cancer research and made in memory of Judy Stevens on the memo line. To give by mail, please send a check payable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445. Please include Judy Stevens on the memo line.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lane Funeral Home, Winchester, MA. For online condolences, please see www.lanefuneral.com.