Judith M. (Foley) Mendes

Judith M. (Foley) Mendes, 74, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, and aunt, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 26, at Lowell General Hospital with her loving husband and children by her side. Judith was the beloved wife of Manuel A. Mendes, with whom she celebrated 50 years of marriage in September 2020.

Born in Lowell, Judith was the daughter of the late Leo A. and Elinor M. (Barrows) Foley both of whom lived under her devoted care until they passed. She attended Lowell Schools and graduated from Keith Hall in 1963.

Early in her career, Judith worked as a Supervisor at New England Telephone & Telegraph in Lowell. After raising three children, she pursued her dream of attending nursing school and later joined Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell.

A devout servant of God, Judith was a member of St. Kathryn Parish in Hudson, NH, where she also taught CCD.

Judith thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her loving family, gardening, playing word games, baking, birdwatching, and smelling the Maine ocean air. Her greatest joy was giving “Judy” hugs—hugs that took 10 minutes and whose effects would last a lifetime. 

In addition to her husband, Manuel (Manny) Mendes, Judith is survived by sons, David Mendes, Andover, MA, and Danial Mendes, Tyngsboro, MA; and daughter, Dawn (Mendes) Wilder, Tyngsboro, MA; beloved grandchildren, Luke Mendes and Aiden Wilder; brothers Leo M. Foley and wife, Darlene, Nashua, NH and Gerry Foley and his wife, Donna, Tyngsboro, MA; sisters Joan (Foley) Fyfe and her husband Roy, Mansfield, TX, Rita (Foley) Stahl and her husband, Michael, Methuen, MA, Mary Lou (Foley) Rutherford and her husband, Mark, Rollinsford, NH, and Anne (Foley) Edmondson, Goffstown, NH; sisters-in-law Mary (Mendes) Barbosa and her husband John, Dracut, MA, Adeline Mendes, Dracut, MA, and Lorraine (Hingston) Mendes, Sebastian, FL. Judith was preceded in death by brother-in-law Antonio Mendes and sister-in-law Delores (Mendes) Millard. Judith also leaves several adoring nieces and nephews as well as several cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you follow Judy’s lead by truly loving one another in her honor. Donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in her name would also be appreciated.

A private funeral was held for her family at St. Kathryn Parish in Hudson, NH, on February 3. A Celebration of Judith’s Life will also be held later this year. For online condolences, please visit www.tyngsboroughfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Judith M. (Foley) Mendes, please visit our floral store.