Birth date: Mar 3, 1931 Death date: Sep 28, 2015
On Monday, September 28, 2015, Sister Judith Elms, OSB, was called to New Life. Given the name Carolyn Marie Elms at birth, she was welcomed on March 03, 1931, by her parents John David (JD) Elms, Sr. and Marie Theresa (Hanson) E Read Obituary
Sr. Judi was loving and giving and fun, too.
I will miss her.
Brenda Lanier
I had the pleasure of meeting Sister Judith, Sister Shawn and Sister Jane while working as the Youth Director at Notre Dame Catholic School. Sister Judith was an amazing teacher that shared her knowledge, wisdom, kindness, understanding and love with every life she touched. To this day, when alumni come back to visit Notre Dame, Sister Judith is the first educator they ask about or share a story about and it is not even close. Sister Judith had an impact on so many and we miss her dearly.
Pray for us, Sister Judith as we will pray for you. Rest in peace. Ken Sladovnik
Sister Judi was a lovely person. She and Sister Jane and Sister Shawn showed up just when my son Andy (15 months old) and I needed them. Andy’s mom, Sue, was in the hospital; and we needed some way to look after him when I was at work. They met Sue in the hospital and volunteered to look after Andy for a while. Sue died shortly thereafter, and the “little while” turned into 16 years. They were Andy’s three moms. In the ensuing years, I’ve often told people that I was acquainted personally with three Catholic saints. They were a profound blessing for Andy and for me. Our story is surely only one of many; the three have been a great blessing for innumerable people over their years of loving service.
I can visualize Sister Judi showing up at the Pearly Gates, welcomed by a vast crowd of people she has helped (including Sue). St. Peter is saying, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Today (November 1, All Saints Day), our Methodist Church’s choir sang this song. It seems appropriate for Sister Judi.
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
Bruce French
Sr. Judith was an inspiring teacher for me when I was younger. She knew how to take the subject matter and make us truly learn and understand it versus just to pass a test and move on. Her passion and commitment could not be missed as she spent countless overtime hours spending with kids tutoring or making the next week's lesson plans. Outside of the classroom Sr. Judith always showed her spirit and love for Notre Dame Catholic School in CO. She supported our sports teams while coming to watch us kids play. Personally, Sr. Judith became a friend and someone who I could call and ask for advise or a prayer. I knew her prayers were never missed! I will miss Sr. Judith a great deal. She was a blessing for not just my life but thousands of students lives.
I knew Sister Judith through all of my years at Notre Dame and many years beyond. She was a was a loving, caring, compassionate woman that will be truly missed. She was an amazing teacher would taught hundreds of kids and you could tell she loved every single minute of it. Sending all of my prayers and good thoughts to all of the family, friends and sisters that she has left.
Hi,
My name is Joelle Cullum and I came late into the life of Sister Judy when my husband and I moved into the Columbine Lake's townhome development in Littleton, CO. The sisters lived just up the street from us and were always welcoming when I (or any neighbor) stopped by. But because Sister Judy was still teaching full-time (in her seventies!) I got to know her better, later.
There she was in a swimming suit at our heated pool, looking like she was in her fifties. She put all of the rest of us to shame with her athletic abilities as we hopped around in the pool trying to do our exercises! And could she cook!
Every Christmas, she and Sister Jane would bake up many batches of many cookies for all the neighbors. And then she would deliver the delicious treats dressed up on decorative paper plates. And it didn't matter the weather!
Sister Judy was a wonderful woman, friend, and neighbor. She is already greatly missed.
Joelle (of Cheyenne WY now)
Thank you all for the photographs. They were wonderful and happy memories of Judith.
"Euge, fidelis servus et prudens." That's what God said to Sister Judith (Judi) when she entered eternal life. "Well done, good an faithful servant!" She was good: a good woman, a good Benedictine, and a more than good teacher. She also was a good and loyal friend. It was Divine Providence that brought Judi (and Jane and Shawn) into my life and into Notre Dame School. As a brand new elementary principal in 1992, I had to hire a language arts teacher. As I perused applications, I noticed there was a nun applying to the Archdiocese of Denver. Everyone would like to have a good nun teaching for them so I looked through the applicastion. When I saw that Sister Jane St. Amant, OSB, was a reference, I knew I would hire Judi. Jane and I had a long history going back to our days together at St. Paul's in 1969. I trusted Jane's judgement. The rest is history. Judi, and later Shawn and Jane, became fixtures at Notre Dame. She was a gentle teacher with very high expectations - and her students strove to meet them. Msgr. Horrigan said that she "was a good woman and an excellent teacher". To that I say "Amen!!" Little did I know then that the three Benedictines would become dear and treasured friends. As a teacher, Judi's discipline was in her teaching: she kept students profitably busy to the point that they had not chance to misbehave. She was a "teacher's teacher".
If those of us who were her Denver friends and admirers miss her (which we do), then the hole left in the Benedictine Community in Abita Springs is hard to fathom.
"Well done, good a faithful servant." She did all things well. She was a good Benedictine. And she certainly was a faithful Benedictine. Rest in peace, dear friend and Sister. Pray for us.
.
Judith remains one of my true heroes. As a teacher, she brought vast experience,expertise and kindness to her students and teaching teammates. I learned from her every day about how to live a spiritual life and find grace in every day. My store of Sister Judith is shared whenever friends and educators meet. She was a blessing in my life. Susan Boydston Burroughs
