Judith G. Marteney

Auburn: Judith Gates Marteney died of natural causes on January 26, 2019.

Mrs. Marteney, the third child of Clyde E. and Freda Moore Gates, was born in Harrisburg, Illinois in 1934 and graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, receiving her BS and MA in Education. Judy met her late husband, Dr. Pierre J Marteney, at the University Baptist Church. They were together for 55 years.  The family moved to Manchester CT in 1961 for Pierre’s career at United Technologies as a research scientist.

In Manchester, Judy was the owner/director of The Blue Shutter Play & Learn School for 28 years touching the lives of hundreds of children and their families. She was also very involved in her community serving on the boards and volunteering for Lutz Jr. Museum Manchester Women’s Club; Girl Scouts; Manchester Musical Players/Gilbert & Sullivan; Trinity Covenant Church; Orford Parish DAR; Cheney Homestead/Manchester Historical Society; Republican Women’s Committee; Conn. Federated Garden Club; and Manchester Garden Club. She also taught adult education sewing and tailoring classes for many years.

She and Pierre renovated an 1820’s home and received several awards for historic preservation. They maintained an acre of perennial flower and vegetable gardens; raised chickens and ducks; and entertained in grand style. They were long-time members of a gourmet dinner club and enjoyed cooking and sampling foods from around the world.

The couple traveled extensively to most US states; took Caribbean cruises; celebrated New Year’s Eve in Vienna for Pierre’s 75th Birthday; hiked at Machu Picchu; boated along The Amazon; enjoyed fine wines and family connections in Germany; explored Greece, Egypt and Israel; and journeyed with Friendship Force to Australia and New Zealand, China and Germany. They did not reach their Life Goal of visiting all 7 continents with only Antarctica remaining.

Moving to Auburn in 2011, Judy settled at Bluefield Manor and made many new friends. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church; Schweinfurth Art Center where she enjoyed a re-awakening of her artistic talents; and the Owasco Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Judy is survived by Susan Marteney of Auburn, NY and her daughter, Lydia; and Martha Marteney of West Hartford, CT and her partner, Trevor Morris. In lieu of any flower arrangements, donations may be made to those organizations which inspire creativity in the Arts such as The Schweinfurth Art Center and The Auburn Chamber Orchestra.

A Memorial Service will be held at 4 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 Williams Street, Auburn, NY. Family will greet guests after the service. Brew Funeral Home has care of arrangements. Judy’s final resting spot will be at Bramelet Cemetery, Wasson, Illinois in the family plot on land deeded by President Millard Fillmore and occupied by kin including Revolutionary War veterans.

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