Judith Aldus

Judith Strickland Aldus (née Butler) 

           Judith, Judy to her friends and Jude to her family, was born a Cockney, that is to say she was born in central London, England within earshot of the the ”Bow bells”. This began a rather peripatetic life since just a few months old, Judith and her mother, Jean, were evacuated to Coventry because of the ”blitz” on London. A few months later, the family returned to Canada by ship after Judith’s father, Gordon, had completed his post-doctoral research year at University College, London. Although Judith was not aware, the trip almost ended in tragedy since their convoy was attacked by a German u-boat. Their ship evaded the attack but it was a longer than normal route zigzagging to escape detection.

          The small family settled in an apartment in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where Judith’s first sibling, Stephen, was born. Shortly after, another move took the family to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the duration of WW II and Judith was surprised by having another ‘baby brother’, Gregory, in the house.  After Judith’s father finished his military service, the family moved again in 1946 to the small town of Deep River, newly carved out of the Canadian Shield forest. Judith’s father was recruited to the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto a year later and the family moved to Toronto, Canada where a third sibling, Susan, was born. The house in Rosedale in Toronto was a bit cramped now and the family moved again to a larger ”fixer upper” in Markham where Judith’s father was one of the pioneer commuters into the city.

          The next move for the family was back to Deep River again but by this time, Judith had completed her seconday school education and had begun BA studies at the University of Toronto. That was a bit of a bumpy ride but after obtaining her degree, Judith enrolled in the graduate program of Library Science at the University of Toronto and had a secondary degree after a year.  Judith’s first real employment, not counting summer jobs, was back in Deep River at the Chalk River nuclear research facility in the library there.  But not willing to live at home again, Judith struck out east and took a position as librarian at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland. There Judith met her future husband, Paul Aldus, a Professor of English. What started as casual conversation at Judith’s desk evolved and they were eventually married in secret. Judith was nervous about the family’s response to Paul who was a generation older than Judith. The ice was finally broken by Paul who telephoned Judith’s parents to explain the situation and Paul was then taken into the bosom of the family.

          Judith and Paul then moved to Ripon, Wisconsin where Paul began teaching in the English department of Ripon College. After a short stop in Sault Ste. Marie where Judith worked briefly as a librarian, the next move, a few years later, was to Montreal, where Paul took a post at what is now known as Concordia University. Judith returned to her librarian career there and they enjoyed several years in Montreal until Paul retired.  Still restless, Judith and Paul decided to move east again and bought a ‘fixer upper’ on the outskirts of Fredericton, New Brunswick. There, their mutual love of redecorating, antiquing, gardening and cats flourished although Judith was still working, this time in the medical library at the University of New Brunswick. Perhaps because the house was too small for their antiques, perhaps because commuting was a problem, Judith and Paul then moved to a very large house in town. Lots of gardening, lots of antiquing, more cats and life was quite enjoyable until Paul’s hip arthritis began to slow him down. One, then two hip replacements did help.  In 1993, Paul suddenly collapsed and succumbed one morning and life changed drastically for Judith. She continued to work until her retirement but her arthritic knees made the gardening difficult. A cleaning lady for the house was helpful but after retirement, Judith decided to move again. This time it was back to her roots in Southern Ontario to Woodstock near her father’s family’s hometown, Ingersoll where she has spent some time as a child. More importantly, Judith bought a large ‘heirloom’ house in Woodstock just two blocks down from her uncle and aunt, Roland and Margaret Meeke. Roland had spent his teenage years living with Judith and her family, first in Montreal and then Ottawa. Judith had mellowed since her teenage love-hate relationship with Roland and he was very helpful with the move, finances, etc. In the new house, Judith had much less gardening to do which was good for her knees. Her cat menagerie grew and the local antiquing for both furniture, glass and anything interesting was a new bonanza.

           However, Judith’s health with the arthritis, diabetes and other ailments meant a restricted lifestyle, especially after both Roland and Margaret had died since they both were a great help to her. With failing health and more dependence on help for many things, Judith reluctantly gave up her home for sale, left her cats with a trusted friend and moved to an assisted living facility, Oxford Gardens, immediately adjacent to Roland and Margaret Meeke’s old home.  Life in Oxford Gardens would have not been as easy were it not for her physiotherapist, PSW's, nurses, staff at Oxford Gardens and friends that helped with everyday care and chores that Judith’s handicaps made difficult. This began before the move to Oxford Gardens but became much more important after that move. By this time, Judith was mobile with a walker only in her apartment at Oxford Gardens but needed an electric wheelchair when out from her room.  Over the past few years, Judith’s health has become more and more precarious with frequent visits to the Woodstock Hospital precipitated by infections for the most part. When admitted in December of last year with another infection, cancer that had spread to her liver was detected. Judith did manage to return briefly to Oxford Gardens but with another setback late this Spring it was obvious that she was declining rapidly.

          Judith passed in her sleep on July 2nd, 2025 with a close friend at her side.

          Judith is survived by her brothers Stephen Harris Butler (wife Margareta) of Uppsala, Sweden and Gregory Gordon Butler of Vancouver, British Columbia (wife Lynn), and sister Susan Carla Revere (husband Michael) of Ottawa, Ontario.

          After cremation, interment will be in the Ingersoll Cemetery near Judith’s grandparents Irvin and Edna Butler. Judith's interment will be on August 28th, 2025, at 10:45a.m. at the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery.  Donations in Judith’s honour made to your local food bank are most appreciated.

Wareing Cremation Services, 225 Norwich Ave., Woodstock, Ontario was entrusted with Final Arrangements. Your messages of remembrance and condolence may be shared here at wareingcremation.ca