Judy Cameron

Judy Cameron

April 1950 - February 2024

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Judy/Mum earlier this month with her family at her side. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma in November, and managed her illness with incredible courage and grace. 

Judy/Mum will be forever missed by her husband of fifty years Alex, her daughters Alexandra (Michael) and Jessica, and her beautiful grandchildren Cassia, Kellan and Jesse. Judy touched many lives and will be greatly missed by her Edge siblings, Cameron sisters and brothers-in-laws, large extended family and her many, many dear friends.

Judy was born in Ottawa to Jack and Vivian Edge, grew up in Courtland Park, and fondly remembered an active childhood with her siblings Barry, Janny, Brian and Robert and neighborhood friends. They enjoyed the simple pleasures of children in the 1950s, holding buttercups under their chins, sucking the syrup from clover, hula hooping, riding bikes, and playing hopscotch. They were an active bunch, and she loved skating on the outdoor rink at the local park, sledding, swimming, attending Camp Woolsey and later downhill skiing. She used to amaze her kids with a story about once cutting class at Glebe High School to hitch hike to the slopes with a girlfriend!

Judy met Alex through a dear mutual friend, Bill Smith. Alex remembers the meeting happened at a party where she did a handstand in a skirt (with shorts on, she always reminded him)!

Judy and Alex raised their daughters in Richmond, with summers spent at the family cottage on O’Brien Lake and on many *memorable* camping trips throughout Canada and the U.S. (during which Judy never failed to remain vigilant to any potential bear activity!). She was an outdoors-woman and an athlete, impressing Alex and her girls alike with her agility and endurance on cross-country trails, skating rinks, downhill ski trips, and at swim meets. Alex particularly remembers her nonchalantly strapping on water skis at 50 and smoothly skiing around a large lake, gliding in for a perfect landing at the dock, even though she hadn’t been on water skis since she was a teenager! Never boastful, she knew her own strengths and had a quiet confidence in herself. She occasionally let herself treasure the praise she got from a ski instructor who happened to follow her down the slopes at Mont Blanc and stopped to comment, “you must have been a mighty fine skier when you were young.” She had teenage daughters at the time! 

She was a kind and fun-loving leader for Girl Guides and Brownies, teaching the kids the grosser songs she could remember from her childhood camp days. She was renowned amongst the neighborhood kids for her baking, and spent many happy hours leaving dough-y fingerprints on every kitchen surface while singing to her favourite musicians (with Josh Groban in heavy rotation). She always inspired her daughters with her sense of style and elegant taste, surrounding herself with beauty, even on a budget.

Judy cherished being a grandma to her “darlings” Cassia, Jesse and Kellan, who were so fortunate to have her constant presence in their lives.  She took care of them as babies, took them to music classes and gymnastics as toddlers, and attended dance recitals, soccer games, basketball games, school concerts; as well as many sleepovers, cottage visits, nature walks, museum visits and parks. The kids looked forward to their weekly dinner visits from Grandma and Poppa where they would enjoy Grandma’s cooking, games of Uno and Grandma’s inexhaustible willingness to read “just one more” story well past bedtime.

Judy had a marvelous artistic spirit, with a particular appreciation for music. She loved classical performances and musicals, and shared her lovely singing voice constantly at home and particularly at Christmas, her favourite time of year. She eagerly looked forward to the Edge family Christmas carol sing-alongs, where she would harmonize with her father and siblings. She enjoyed playing the piano, going to the ballet, and over the past year took up studying music theory. She also developed beautiful craft skills over the years — creating countless treasured cross-stitch Christmas ornaments and other keepsakes for friends and family. She could also patch up any beloved stuffed animal that needed “surgery.” Judy loved her beautiful gardens and spent many sunny hours tending to her flowers, along with her “little helpers,” who would join in watering them (finding an opportunity to make ingenious use of their super soakers!). Judy was a skilled pastry maker and baker, creating her own popular bread-making courses, and scheming up other entrepreneurial ventures.

Judy was social and outgoing and nurtured lifelong and new friendships with people of all ages, who were drawn to her positive nature and contagious smile. She treasured time with friends, attending concerts, playing cards, relaxing at the cottage, and hosting dinner parties (we fondly remember her 40th where she was supposed to dress up as Vanna White but showed up as Tina Turner). She loved eating and shopping her way through local small towns and far-flung cities alike.

Her spirit of adventure and the child-like twinkle in her eye never left her. At 73, she was still jumping on trampolines with her grandkids and managing to find joy in the simplest of things — an inspiration for all of us. In her sickness she remained as she was throughout her life: strong, stoic, and unfailingly kind.

We will forever miss our dear Judy/Mum/Grandma. 

If desired, donations can be made in Judy’s name to OrKidstra (https://orkidstra.ca) or Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada (https://www.braintumour.ca/). 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday May 4, 2024 from 2-5pm.  We ask those attending to please wear a touch of Judy’s favorite colour: purple.  Please contact the family for location and further details.