Judith Comeau Joseph (Judy), 82 of Smyrna, Delaware passed away peacefully at home on June 19, 2024 after a long illness.

Judy was born October 16, 1941 in Greenwich, CT to parents Alphée (Alfred) and Helen (nee Casey) Comeau.  Her parents moved several times during her childhood but she remembered her years and many lifelong friends from Clark, NJ with special fondness.  Judith held a Master's degree in education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, and a Master of Divinity from The All Faiths Seminary of New York, NY.   She was a proud member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and was an ordained interfaith minister.   She lived in and served people in her communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Delaware.

Her special ministry was promoting religious and cultural understanding. As a Friend, her mandate was to serve "that of God" in everyone. Judy's special skill was at the intersection of education and providing emotional / spiritual support for those in crisis no matter their cultural or religious background.   Judy was a compassionate humanitarian who dedicated her life to improving the welfare of others, leaving a lasting positive impact on countless lives and communities.

While living in Eastern Pennsylvania, she served as Chaplain for Police, Fire and Emergency Services in Newtown PA for almost five years and was a member of the Bucks County, PA , and Keystone Crisis Response teams.    She also served as a founding member of Southwest Airlines first crisis response team, training in Texas and flying out of Baltimore to serve the entire eastern US.     She spent several years creating and then teaching Thanatology (The scientific study of death) and Comparative World Religions courses at Bucks County Community College in PA.  Judy wrote and published two books "I Hate Strawberry Jam" on dealing with the death of a child and "Responding with Compassion" a pocket reference book, treasured by emergency responders, that outlines various religious beliefs, prayers and rituals for the sick and dying of diverse faiths.  For several years, Judith travelled the NY, NJ, PA area providing staff training for healthcare facilities and Hospices.  As an interfaith minister, she officiated at many marriages, funerals and baby naming ceremonies and also privately provided one-on-one traumatic grief counseling.

Judy especially enjoyed traveling and meeting people from other cultures.  With her husband Seymour she travelled all over North America, Europe and North Africa.  One of her fondest memories was of a two-week trip to Egypt including a cruise up the Nile.

She is survived by her loving husband, Seymour Joseph of Smyrna, Delaware and her sister, Anne (nee Comeau) Croake of Manchester, NJ. Judy's absence will leave an irreplaceable void in the lives of everyone she touched.  They will miss her laughter, wisdom and the warmth she brought to every moment.

A celebration of Judy's life will be held on September 22nd at 1pm at the Wrightstown Friends (Quaker) Meetinghouse at 535 Durham Rd, Newtown, PA 18940.  All are welcome to attend.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rolling Harvest Food Rescue by clicking DONATE at rollingharvest.org

"The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious, and devout souls are everywhere of one religion; and when death has taken off the mask, they will know one another, though the divers liveries they wear here makes them strangers."  — William Penn, 1693

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Arrangements are by Matthews–Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.