Obituary of Judith A. Swift

Judith A. Swift Beloved Wife, Mother & Grandmother Judith A. Swift, of West Caldwell, NJ passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2020. Join the family as they celebrate Judy's life on Saturday, January 18th at 1:00 pm in the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, 326 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ. Guests are encouraged to bring a quilt that Judy made for them to display. Judy was born in Brooklyn, NY to James and Catherine McQuade. She attended the Little Flower School in Flatbush, Brooklyn and graduated from St. Edmund's High School in 1965 at the age of sixteen. She was an honor student and a member of the National Business Honor Society. She spent time travelling in Spain after the death of her mother when she was seventeen and then resided with her sister Kathleen and her beloved maternal grandmother Sarah Donohue when she returned in the West Village of New York. She was married to Frank B. Swift, Jr in 1971 and together they raised their family in West Caldwell, NJ. Talented in every facet of life she began her career as a teenager with the US Customs Court while taking classes at Brooklyn College. She worked as a legal secretary and eventually a paralegal throughout a long career. She received her paralegal certificate from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors in 1995. Judy also worked as a Census Group Leader, where her impeccable attention to detail was utilized. In addition, she was always devoted to the family business, Frank B. Swift, Inc., and served as Secretary and Treasurer. Judy was a multi-talented artisan. She excelled in many different mediums including, watercolor, clay, calligraphy, sewing, culinary arts, photography and quilting. It was through her quilting that she touched so many lives. She loved nothing more than to gift one of her magnificent quilts to a friend or loved one. She made hundreds of quilts over the years. Growing up she enjoyed playing double dutch and stickball in the streets of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Judy was a competitive athlete and excelled on the basketball court. She enjoyed tennis and cross country skiing. She was an avid reader, trivia expert, and also an animal lover who doted on many cats and dogs throughout her life. Judy loved to travel, among her favorite trips were Spain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Alaska and Canada. Judy was a devoted mother to her son Frank and daughter Sarah. Despite her full professional life, she never missed any of her children's activities. Judy volunteered in the community serving for the Women's Auxiliary of the West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department, Girl Scout troop leader, Cub Scout den mother, and many years as class mother for her children. She loved nature and the outdoors, her photography of nature was among some of her most accomplished work. Surviving are her beloved husband of 49 years, Frank, Jr., devoted children, Frank, III (Krystin) and Sarah (Stephen, Jr.) Ludwig; loving sister, Kathleen (Allan Levine) McQuade and cherished grandchildren, William & Hannah Swift, Mairin, Stephen, III & Luke Ludwig. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Catherine Donohue McQuade, her brother James McQuade Jr. and her grandparents Thomas and Sarah Heverin Donohue, and James and Margaret McQuade. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the West Essex First Aid Squad, PO Box 662, West Caldwell, NJ 07007-0662.