Judy O'Brien
April 6th, 1950 - April 5th, 2025
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Judy's Obituary
Judy (Paul) O’Brien, 74, left this earth on April 5, 2025, with both of her daughters by her side. Judy was born April 6, 1950, in Dowagiac, Michigan. Following high school, she became a dedicated Michigan State University Spartan, where she earned her BA in Education and MA in Outdoor Education.
Upon graduating, Judy returned to Dowagiac to devote her life to teaching, impacting thousands of students over her 30-plus-year career teaching elementary grades in Dowagiac and later working with student teachers at Michigan State University.
Judy had an adventurous spirit and found countless ways to combine her love of teaching with adventures she could share with her students. These included annual trips to Mackinac Island for the Michigan Reading Association’s Summer Literature conference and working the Language Arts Camp hosted at Van Buren Youth Camp, introducing her to a myriad of children’s authors and illustrators. A speaking engagement with the International Reading Association took her to Ireland, and she traveled to Japan as a Fulbright Fellowship Scholar. Judy also found herself sailing the high seas with two different Teacher at Sea programs. She spent 5 weeks in Woods Hole, MA, sailing around Cape Cod with Sea Education Association, and then boarded a NOAA Stellar Sea Lion cruise off the coast of Alaska. Judy traveled to Australia several times with MSU, leading student teachers on study abroad trips.
Judy was recognized for her craft throughout her career. She was a state finalist for NASA’s Teacher in Space program and was later awarded the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Grant, giving her a sabbatical to create an intensive writing curriculum for the district. Her unique “Islands” theme for her 1991 5th-grade class earned her Rand McNally’s National Geography teacher of the year. She was the recipient of MSU’s Distinguished Alumni and Crystal Apple award. She served as a Teacher’s Choice Coordinator for the International Reading Association, where her reviews of 300 books per year filled her home, classroom, and school library bookshelves.
Judy was never happier than when she was with her grandchildren. Her early retirement was spent exposing them to all of her favorite spots like Silver Beach and Sarett Nature Center or simply spending hours swinging in the hammock in her front yard. Later, she took great joy in receiving hugs and spending time listening to her youngest grandson play in her presence.
Judy is survived by her two daughters - Rhiannon (Brian) Mulligan and Jane (Will) Godfrey; three grandchildren - Alanna Mulligan, Teague Mulligan, and Alder Godfrey; three siblings -Jack (Melissa) Paul, Jill Paul, and Jim (Barb) Paul; nephew - Jack (Anna) Paul; and great-niece - Addi Paul. She is preceded in death by her parents - Jack and Eleanor (Sullivan) Paul.
Honoring Judy’s wishes, cremation has taken place and her brain has been donated to the Brain Support Network to help advance Alzheimer’s research. Rhiannon and Jane would like to thank the staff at Emmanuel Hospice for the generous care they gave Judy over the past two years of her life. Those wishing to honor Judy may make donations to Sarett Nature Center or E. Root Fitch Camp. A celebration of life will take place at the Dowagiac Area History Museum on June 14th, 2025, from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Local arrangements have been entrusted to Clark Chapel and Cremation Services – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Dowagiac. Please visit Judy’s personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to her family at www.clarkch.com.
Upon graduating, Judy returned to Dowagiac to devote her life to teaching, impacting thousands of students over her 30-plus-year career teaching elementary grades in Dowagiac and later working with student teachers at Michigan State University.
Judy had an adventurous spirit and found countless ways to combine her love of teaching with adventures she could share with her students. These included annual trips to Mackinac Island for the Michigan Reading Association’s Summer Literature conference and working the Language Arts Camp hosted at Van Buren Youth Camp, introducing her to a myriad of children’s authors and illustrators. A speaking engagement with the International Reading Association took her to Ireland, and she traveled to Japan as a Fulbright Fellowship Scholar. Judy also found herself sailing the high seas with two different Teacher at Sea programs. She spent 5 weeks in Woods Hole, MA, sailing around Cape Cod with Sea Education Association, and then boarded a NOAA Stellar Sea Lion cruise off the coast of Alaska. Judy traveled to Australia several times with MSU, leading student teachers on study abroad trips.
Judy was recognized for her craft throughout her career. She was a state finalist for NASA’s Teacher in Space program and was later awarded the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Grant, giving her a sabbatical to create an intensive writing curriculum for the district. Her unique “Islands” theme for her 1991 5th-grade class earned her Rand McNally’s National Geography teacher of the year. She was the recipient of MSU’s Distinguished Alumni and Crystal Apple award. She served as a Teacher’s Choice Coordinator for the International Reading Association, where her reviews of 300 books per year filled her home, classroom, and school library bookshelves.
Judy was never happier than when she was with her grandchildren. Her early retirement was spent exposing them to all of her favorite spots like Silver Beach and Sarett Nature Center or simply spending hours swinging in the hammock in her front yard. Later, she took great joy in receiving hugs and spending time listening to her youngest grandson play in her presence.
Judy is survived by her two daughters - Rhiannon (Brian) Mulligan and Jane (Will) Godfrey; three grandchildren - Alanna Mulligan, Teague Mulligan, and Alder Godfrey; three siblings -Jack (Melissa) Paul, Jill Paul, and Jim (Barb) Paul; nephew - Jack (Anna) Paul; and great-niece - Addi Paul. She is preceded in death by her parents - Jack and Eleanor (Sullivan) Paul.
Honoring Judy’s wishes, cremation has taken place and her brain has been donated to the Brain Support Network to help advance Alzheimer’s research. Rhiannon and Jane would like to thank the staff at Emmanuel Hospice for the generous care they gave Judy over the past two years of her life. Those wishing to honor Judy may make donations to Sarett Nature Center or E. Root Fitch Camp. A celebration of life will take place at the Dowagiac Area History Museum on June 14th, 2025, from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Local arrangements have been entrusted to Clark Chapel and Cremation Services – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Dowagiac. Please visit Judy’s personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to her family at www.clarkch.com.
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