Judith Folan

Judith “Judy” M. (Ferguson) Folan of Hopkinton, formerly a 40-year resident of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, died at Milford Hospital on Dec. 2 after an illness.

Judy Ferguson was born in 1941 in Worcester, the oldest of seven children of Marie and Walter Ferguson, now deceased. She was born on the Fourth of July, with national celebrations occurring each year to mark both her birth and our national independence. Judy graduated from St Peter’s High School in Worcester. Subsequently, she earned an RN at St. Vincent’s Hospital, also in Worcester. She married John M. Folan of Norwood in 1968. He passed away in 2008 after their 50-year marriage. During that time, she and Jack fostered and subsequently adopted Roseanna Torres Folan. They later welcomed a granddaughter, Kathleen Pearson, to their lives.

Over the years, Judy worked in numerous hospitals and health concerns in Massachusetts and Maine, including Norwood Hospital, Maine Medical Center, and the State of Maine’s Department of Health and Welfare. Most recently, she worked for more than 30 years as a supervisor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health’s Division of Nursing Care Facilities. In 2021, she moved from Pennsylvania back to her roots and her family in Massachusetts. She lived at Southgate of Shrewsbury and recently moved to Golden Pond Assisted Living in Hopkinton.

An avid historian, she belonged to the General Meade Society and the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table, authoring articles for the monthly newsletter and earning the President’s Award in 2017. She loved travel and was devoted to her family. In describing her, friends and family remark on her warmth, kindness, generosity, laughter and humor. “Sweet” and “sweetness” have been lifelong descriptions attributed to Judy.

Judy is survived by her daughter, Roseanna Folan, and her granddaughter, Kathleen Pearson of Tacoma, Washington. She has six surviving siblings, Geraldine Ryan of Middleborough; John and wife Kathleen Ferguson of Lithia, Florida; Jane Ferguson of Holden; Julianne Ferguson of Shrewsbury; Michael Ferguson and Michelle Hall of Rutland; and Elizabeth Nugent of Worcester. She also leaves surviving members of Jack’s extensive family, including Doris and Bob Mason of Andover; Judith Fox of Methuen; Lois Folan of Norwood; and Joanne Folan of Norwood. In addition, she leaves multiple nieces, nephews and godchildren, her beloved friends, Vernita Parris of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and Raymond Parris of Bronx, New York, aides Lynn Whynot and Victorine Azah, and her niece, Nolene Ferguson, DNP, who provided care.

A private service open to family and close friends will be held starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, at Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home in Norwood, followed by a burial beside her beloved Jack in Highland Cemetery Norwood. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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