Judith "Judy" Ruth Hillier (nee Ireland)

Judy received her wings March 15, 2025. In her 79th year after suffering a massive heart attack following knee replacement surgery the preceding day.  

Born in Toronto, August 20, 1946, Judy was the second born and cherished daughter of Herb & Ruth Ireland. Judy was predeceased by our precious daughter Tricia Anne Hillier-McGarrigle (11-26-1970 to 03-24-2005), her parents Herb and Ruth Ireland and her younger sister, Susan (2019)  

Judy is survived by her loving and grateful husband Roger of 56 years, her adored grandson’s Ryan and Matthew McGarrigle, her older sister Carolyn Whittle (George) and Younger sister Jane Lawrence (Brian). She will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbours and friends. 

Judy was a Secretary for the N.M. Davis Corp (Chainway Stores Div.) She was a stay at home mom until the mid 80's when she learned to drive and then returned to the workforce and became Manager of Cedar Heights Post Office until we retired in 1996. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, side by side, to build our retirement house on LGL, but it was Judy and Judy alone that made it a loving home. 

She loved music and loved to dance to Rock and Roll and slow love song ballads, until the arthritis in her knees made it impossible to do so. We always ended the dance evening with “ I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You “ by Elvis or the “Last Waltz” by Engelbert. She often said, that it was music and her treadmill that got her through after our daughters death. When she was cooking and baking the stereo was always blasting 50's music. Her roast beef dinners, pies, cookies and cakes were to be admired and envied, and no one ever left her table hungry. She cherished every moment she spent cooking with Her Grandsons. She was an avid reader, gardener, and oh how she loved to go on shopping sprees with Linda Dawkins and Kim Armstrong. Judy truly believed that, “ It is more blessed to give than to receive” as her generosity knew no bounds. She had an unwavering and undying love of her family, her kindness towards others, and her love for all creatures both great and small. She had the uncanny ability to forgive and accept the wrongdoings of others while still moving forward. She was a very private person, but if she opened her heart and accepted you as a friend, you could rest assured that you were her friend for life. Her positive attitude towards life motivated those closest to her even when she was in severe pain with the arthritis that plagued her knees. She so looked forward to the day she would be pain free so she could return to doing the things that she loved. 

We met at a New Years Eve Party in 1967, were engaged May 67 and married on Thanksgiving Weekend October 11, 1969. She has been my Wife, the love of my life, my confidant, my rock and my best friend ever since. My life will never be the same without her. I’ll end with the expression I would say to her at night. Good night Sweetie, I love you.

Private Funeral Arrangements

As per Judy's wishes, cremation has taken place, and she will be interred in a niche next to her precious daughter Tricia at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. A celebration of Judy's life will be held at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Judy's memory can be made to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to any other charitable organization dealing with abused women. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the HALIBURTON COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME 13523 Hwy #118 Haliburton, ON (705) 457-9209.

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