Judith Marie Whittemore Chapman, 67, of Duncan passed away, Tuesday morning, September 11, 2018 at the Smith Phayer Hospice House.Our beloved "Judy" was born into this world to her proud parents, the late John Earl Whittemore (USN) and Marjorie Ann (Moffat) Whittemore, on April 26, 1951 at Mercy's Catholic Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Born perilously early, and a tiny preemie weighing-in at less than two pounds, she was not given very good odds of surviving. But, a fighter from her very first breath, and after more than three difficult months in Mercy's NICU, Judy defied the doctor's odds and was finally welcomed home by a very excited big sister, the late Jo Ann (Whittemore) Hancock. Judy and her family grew-up in the Hamilton area of Baltimore. She was beloved by her paternal grandparents, the late Dr. Edwin and Marie (Brack) Whittemore, both of Baltimore, maternal grandmother, the late Loma Ann (Sheppler) Moffat, of Manassas, PA her and maternal grandfather, the late Earl Clyde Moffat, Sr., of Erie, PA. Judy met Gary Wayne Chapman one sunny school day, while driving her little sister, Joy Marjorie (Whittemore) Flick to school, and they eventually married. Judy and Joy were as close as two sisters could be, lifelong besties, who enjoyed many fun and exciting trips together, along with many memorable family events. They talked on the phone every day, sometimes for hours. Judy was also the loving sister-in-law of Joy's husband, David Louis Flick, also of Baltimore, who loved her like a sister and whom she adored. She was the proud and dedicated Aunt to Joy and Dave's three children, Brooke Michelle (Flick) Huling, (Justin) Dustin John Flick (Myra) and her Godson, Capt. Ridge Robert Flick, USAF. (Capt. Kelsey, USAF.) She also cherished Joy and Dave's three young grandsons, John Marshall, Reid David and Dylan Robert Huling. Judy and Gary had one child, a very special daughter, who has been the love of Judy's life and the apple of her eye for 44 years. Jennifer Leigh (Chapman) Chadbourne, was welcomed into this world by her beaming parents after a very difficult childbirth which, ultimately, resulted in a highly risky Caesarean section. No mother and daughter have ever been closer, and Jenny was her Mom's entire world. Judy and Gary eventually divorced, and Judy sacrificed everything to raise her little girl as a single Mom. Gary remarried Robin (Belville) Chapman, Jenny's step-mom, and they currently reside in Randolph, Vermont. Once Jenny had graduated from high school, in Baltimore County, MD, Judy decided to realize her life-long dream of moving to Maine, where she purchased a 150-year-old farmhouse in Milo which was used by the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. She loved to tell the story of how scared, fleeing slaves hid in the basement of her house, while awaiting their escape on the train, which ran just beyond her backyard's property line. She was employed by the Bangor Savings Bank for many years as a lead computer operator on the night shift.Her daughter, Jenny, eventually joined her in Maine, where Jenny met, and then married, Travis Neil Chadbourne, of Garland, ME, and whom Judy always called "the son that she never had." She loved him with all of her heart. Judy's life was complete upon the birth of her precious grandson, Dustin Neil Chadbourne, and a very special granddaughter, Emaleigh Morgan Chadbourne, each of whom she couldn't have loved more or been prouder of. They became her world. Once diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma in both lungs on October 11, 2011, and given only 3-6 months to live, Judy retired and moved in with her loving daughter and her family in Brownville Junction, Maine, where they resided until 2014, when they gave-up the snow for the sunbelt and relocated to Duncan, S.C., where they all currently reside. Judy was determined to fight her cancer and struggled to live long enough so that her precious grandchildren would grow old enough to remember her. Judy, once again, defied all of the doctors' odds and fought a very courageous seven-year battle against her demon, cancer, before finally succumbing to this heinous disease on September 11, 2018. Surrounded by her devoted and loving family, and under the exceptional care of the staff at the Smyth-Phayer Hospice House in Landrum, S.C., Judy peacefully transitioned from labor to reward, and received her Angel wings, at 6:25 am (ET) on September 11, 2018. Judy's entire family would like to sincerely thank all of Judy's doctors, nurses and care-givers, who have provided such excellent care over the past seven years, and especially the earthly Angels at the Smyth-Phayer Hospice House, for the love, sensitivity and compassion that they have shown to Judy and her family during her last three weeks on this earth. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Judy was the strongest, most independent woman any of us have ever known, and we thank God every day for having been blessed to have had her in our lives. Although she will be so sorely missed by so many, we rest in the knowledge that Judy is not gone, but merely in a different spiritual form, free from all pain and worry. We will always love you, Judy. This isn't good-bye...it's "SEE 'YA LATER!" (Because we know that we will.)Judy requested that no service be held.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you kindly consider donating to the Smith Phayer Hospice House, 260 Fairwinds Drive, Landrum, S.C. 29356 (864-457-9100) Feel free to call them for their wish list for donated items. Thank you.
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