Judith J. (Hartert) McMahon

Judith Jeanette McMahon (Hartert) passed away peacefully at home with her family on Wednesday, September 1. She was born on October 7, 1936, in Winona, Minnesota, to Edward and Jeannette (Gernes) Hartert. In 1958, she graduated from the College of St. Theresa with a bachelors degree in Education. She became the loving wife of Martin McMahon on July 25, 1959.

Judith taught elementary school in Virginia Beach, VA, Evergreen Park, IL, and Deerfield, IL, was a tutor for many students, and was an aide in the Special Education department at Weston Middle School. She later worked as an assistant to the late Dr. Alvin Lichtman in Westport, CT, and at the Norwalk Medical Group in Norwalk, CT.

She was a member and officer of Arden Shore in Deerfield, Illinois, and was active in church groups at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Weston, CT, and St. Gregory the Great Parish in Bluffton, SC. She was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Flower Guild. Judith was involved in PTA  and other school activities, while her children were young. In Bluffton, SC, she belonged to a number of card clubs and groups at Sun City Hilton Head. She was an officer and member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Bluffton/Hilton Head.

Judith was a loving wife and mother with a sweet smile and a lively spirit. She loved to cook and bake, and belonged to a neighborhood gourmet club for several years. She also was a lover of the arts, especially music, and enjoyed ballet, Broadway shows, and spending time in New York City with friends and family. Gardening and flowers were a passion of hers.

She is survived by her husband, Martin McMahon of Port Wentworth, GA, her children Sean (Lucy) McMahon, of Bethlehem, PA, Shannon (Rich) Bruchal of Stratford, CT, and Erin (Earl) Lewis of Port Wentworth, GA., her sister, Boni Neeser of Stillwater, MN, and brother Bruce Hartert (Rita) of Spring Valley, MN, as well as three grandchildren, Brendon McMahon of Nazareth, PA, Ryan McMahon of Austin, TX and Caitlin McMahon of Bethlehem, PA, one great-granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brother John (Jean) Hartert, and a brother-in-law, Roger Neeser.

Friends may call at Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton, SC, on Wednesday, September 22nd from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Prayers and a eulogy will be delivered at 6:30 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Judith’s life will be held on Thursday, September 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, SC. Internment will follow at Beaufort National Cemetery, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at https://www.michaeljfox.org or GHC Foundation, P.O. Box 15665, Savannah, GA 31416, or at https://www.ghchospice.com.

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