Jeanne Judge McParland of Branford passed away Jan. 29, of COVID, in the hospice wing at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was 93 years old. Jeanne was born in 1929 to Frederick and Marion (White) Judge, growing up with three brothers and a sister in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Jeanne received her Bachelor of Arts degree at William Smith College. She was very athletic and played on the basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. Jeanne returned to school when her children were grown to earn a master’s degree from Adelphi University. She went on to work as a Social Worker at Madonna Heights in Dix Hills, New York. Subsequent to her retirement and divorce, she moved from Long Island to East Haven.

Jeanne wanted to be near her sister, Winnifred Judge, of Branford. She and her siblings spent their summers here, and then their children did the same. In the 1960s and ’70s, when her family would visit, Jeanne and her children would help Winnie with the Used Book Stall, which she organized for many years for the Annual Trinity Fair. Jeanne couldn’t possibly live close to her sister without becoming involved in many of the same clubs and activities as Winnifred. She became a member of the Branford Garden Club, the Half Hour Reading Club, and the Branford Historical Society, which hosted the annual Strawberry Festival on the Green, as well as many other events. Jeanne also assisted Winnie with the restoration of the Cenotaph and the Yale Tablet on the Branford Green. She became a volunteer at the Connecticut Hospice through the Garden Club, too.

Jeanne became an active member of Trinity Church on the Green in Branford. She served on many committees. Jeanne and Winnie also served as archivists for Trinity. They updated the History of Trinity Church for the period of 1883 to 2007.

Jeanne continued to work part-time as a Social Worker, taking on private clients until she was 80 years old. She was also committed to her health and was an active member of Silver Sneakers. Jeanne loved to laugh. At times, she would laugh so hard that she couldn’t stop. Her sides would ache, and tears would roll down her cheeks, but she was filled with such a contagious joy that you couldn’t help but laugh, too. She had many interests and friends but could best be described as being a woman of compassion and empathy. If a friend was in need, she was there with a helping hand and an open heart.

Jeanne’s life changed forever on Aug. 31, 2013, when a fall resulted in a massive traumatic brain injury. She would require around-the-clock care for the remainder of her life and moved to Branford in 2014. Jeanne’s family is extremely grateful to Sonia Melvin, Patricia Davis, and every other person involved in her care.

The youngest of her family, Jeanne died just 26 days after her sister Winnifred. Her parents have passed, as have her other siblings, Gordon, Hugh and Roderick. Jeanne is survived by her daughter Susan (Michael); stepson John Craig (Linda); son Steven (Linda); three granddaughters; and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by five nephews: Roger, Hugh, Greg, Kenny, and David; one niece, Barbara; one grandniece, Allison; and six grandnephews: Jeremy, Mitchell, Richard, Evan, Nicholas, and Alexander.

A memorial service for Jeanne and Winnifred will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, at Trinity Church on the Green in Branford. Donations in Jeanne’s memory would be welcome at The Connecticut Hospice, The Branford Historical Society, the Branford Garden Club, Trinity Church, or the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. The Hawley Lincoln Memorial, Guilford was in charge of arrangements.