Judith M. Lidberg

Judith M. Lidberg of South Windsor CT died peacefully at home on September 23, 2014. She was born on March 6, 1944, in Racine, WI, the daughter of the late Edward Nels Lidberg and Helen (Miller) Lidberg. After several years in Florida she and her son Rick moved to Manchester CT in 1980, and she was employed as an Assistant Vice President with a major national insurance broker in Hartford. While living in Manchester she was an active member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and their Senior Choir. She pursued vocal training and joined the choruses of the Connecticut Opera and New Britain Opera Company. In 1988 Judith traveled to the Holy Lands on a trip which would change the course of her life. She accepted a call to serve in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem through the World Missions Office of the national Episcopal Church in New York City. Judith served as Warden, Acting Course Director and Acting Dean of St. George's College in Jerusalem, and then as the Dean's Assistant for services at St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem. During this time she researched and wrote the architectural history of the Cathedral for the Diocese. While in the Middle East, she attended the American University in Cairo, Egypt, studying Islam and Islamic Art and Architecture. She was a member of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a Fellow with the Society of St. John the Evangelist. On her return to the United States in 1993, she attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley MA as a Frances Perkins Scholar where she completed her degree in Comparative Religion and Art History in 1997. Following graduation Judith served as Associate for Alumni/ae and Church Relations at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge MA, followed in 1999 by joining the staff of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas TX. She served as their Director of Mission and Outreach and established a Companion Relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem, and was elected to the Executive Committee of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. In December 2005 Judith returned to New England to join the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. As the first Canon for Ordained Vocations in the diocese, she set the highest standard for supporting the work of the Commission on Ministry and shepherding many inquirers through the challenging and life-changing process of formation for ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church. Her clarity of vision, pastoral sensitivity, kindness and good humor sustained the postulants and candidates in her care, thereby enriching the church with a generation of effective ordained leaders. Judith retired in February 2013 and returned to Connecticut to be near family and friends. She realized the dream of a lifetime by traveling to Sweden in 2012, but the coast of Maine always remained dear to her heart with many hours spent on the rocks at Pemaquid Point. Judith is survived by her beloved son Richard E. Lidberg and Kendra Bauer, grandchildren Brittney Bauer, Bryan Bauer, and Tylor Lidberg. She also leaves her brother Robert Lidberg and his wife Lonna of California, sister-in-law Celia Petersen, niece Patricia Crews of Florida, and cousin Barbara Velotas, Houston TX. She was predeceased by her brother Jimmie Petersen. She leaves a host of friends to mourn her passing, especially dear friends and mentors Kathy and Jim Gavin, Laurie Rediker, Winthrop Ford, Ruth McEraevy, Kenneth Woods, Jane Wolfe, The Rev. Jeffrey Mello, the Rev. Canon John and Mrs. Kirsten Peterson, Br. Curtis Almquist, the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, and Jo Simister, our angel who flew in from the U.K. to be with Judith. The family would like to thank Dr. Amy Brown and her staff at Hartford Hospital, and the staff of the Visiting Nurse Association for their many kindnesses to Judith. Judith's travels throughout the United States, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Italy and Sweden helped to broaden her understanding of divergent cultures and religions. She explored the art and architecture of the Middle East and Europe first hand. Judith was able to weave these life experiences into a rich tapestry which she shared, not only through her work, but with everyone in her life. A Celebration of Judith's Life will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 41 Park Street, Manchester CT, ( www.stmarysct.org ) followed by a reception where guests may greet her family. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial gifts be directed to: "The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, designation: St. George's College", 25 Old Kings Highway North, Suite 13, Darien CT 06820. Holmes Funeral Home Manchester is in care of arrangements. To leave a message of condolence please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com



Service DetailsThursday, October 2nd, 2014 11:00am, St. Mary's Episcopal Church