GARDINER – The Lord and Savior called upon our beloved Judith Anne O’Brien Skehan to her heavenly home on Dec. 2, 2023. Judy passed peacefully in her home with her devoted husband, John “Jack” Skehan by her side. Judy was born Sept. 4, 1935 in Augusta, to Michael “Mickey” O’Brien and Thelma Newell O’Brien.

After the deaths of their parents, Judy and her brother, Newell “Brud” O’Brien, were welcomed into the loving family of Roland and Louise Marquis of Hallowell, Maine. Judy graduated from Hall-Dale High School in Hallowell and later attended nursing school.

After graduating from nursing school Judy met and married the first love of her life, Elden Charles Smith. A few years later they would move their young family to California where they lived until Elden’s death in the Fall 1972. With a new baby and two teenagers in tow Judy moved back to you her roots in Hallowell.

As fate would have it Judy was introduced to the second love of her life, Jack Skehan. Their first date on Mother’s Day, 1977, would be the beginning of a long happy marriage and a “Brady Bunch” like blended family.

In addition to being the matriarch of the “Brady Bunch” Judy was an integral part of many family business ventures. Winters were the busiest times at the Skehan household as Judy would field phone calls and dispatch Jack to snow plowing customers during snowy days and nights, placed orders and scheduled deliveries for Jack’s All Star Dairy customers as well as “man” the small home office of Jack’s growing tax preparation business, Jack Skehan and Associates.

To the joy of her children and grandchildren, Judy opened and managed an ice cream parlor in Downtown Gardiner as well as baked pies to sell on a Jack’s mobile bakery unit.

In their later years Jack and Judy were fortunate enough to enjoy cruising the globe and spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Summer pool parties, trips to the beach, birthday parties, trips to Disney, Halloween parties, Christmas celebrations were but a few of her favorite times to share with her family.

Judy is survived by her husband Jack; their seven children and spouses, daughter Kim Davis and husband George, son Elden “Chuck” Smith and wife Gail, son Charles “Skip” Skehan and wife Karen, son Scott Skehan and wife Tina, son Bob Skehan and wife Mitzi, daughter Judianne “Angel” Demers and husband Ron, son Royce “Mickey” Smith and wife Alison; 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren; and Judy’s brother Newell “Brud” O’Brien and his wife Enid of Jacksonville, Fla.

A heartfelt “thank you” to Judy’s friend and caretaker of seven years, Kelly “Missy” Burgess and to Jake Wilson from the Maine General Hospice team.

No visiting hours are planned. A celebration of Judy’s life will be held Friday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish, 110 School Street, Gardiner.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers,

please consider making donations to:

Maine Right to Life

P.O. Box 257

Auburn, ME 04212-0257 or:

St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105



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