Judith Ann MacDonald

SERVICES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY, AUGUST 5th (Due to covid-19 exposure)

Judith Ann MacDonald died in her sleep, early Wednesday morning, July 6, at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home in Goffstown, NH.  Judith had Parkinson's Disease, diagnosed in 2013.  She was eight days shy of her 80th birthday.  For the last 14 years, she has been the lifetime partner of Earl A. Rinker III, a former Manchester Alderman and former Executive Councilor.

Judith was born in Somersworth, Massachusetts.  She was the daughter of John and Mary Spires.  John and Mary divorced and Mary married James Lewis a career Naval Officer.  John and Mary had three boys: James with his wife Janice who live in Jacksonville NC, David with Barbara who live in Zephyrhills, FL and Charles (who since has passed away) and widow Kathy from Puyallup, WA.  Judith has several nieces and nephews.   Judith grew close to Earl's children and step children; his son Earl and wife Donna in Manchester, his daughter Karla Armenti and husband Charles in Portsmouth as well as Earl's step children; Carrie Griffiths and husband Charles in Rye and Sarah and husband Michael MacDonald in Candia, formerly from Keene.  Judith and Earl lost their spouses to cancer in the mid 2000s.

Growing up in Palmetto, Florida, she graduated from Palmetto High School in 1960 and promptly joined the Navy.  After being discharged, she married John Carey and they moved to New Hampshire. Judith had two children with John; Judy Carey who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and William Carey, who lives in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. John built condominiums in the Dominican Republic and Judith visited as often as possible.   John and Judith adopted two Dominican daughters.  Digna who is married to Brian Victorino, and  lives in Plympton-Wyoming, Ontario, Canada and Yuleina MacDonald who lives in Cliffside Park, NJ.  For a few years Judith and Earl spent part of some winters there.

John Carey and Judith divorced and Judith later married John MacDonald, a former NH Representative.  Judith became the step mother of five children; Eileen, who married Mario Ponte who lives in Rye, Susanne, John Jr. and wife Linda living in Pittsfield, Paul and William of Lincoln, NE.  Eileen, Susanne and Paul have since passed.

Judith was the first woman elected to the Hillsborough County Register of Deeds in 1982, and was reelected 13 times, serving as Registrar for 28 years.  During her tenure, Judith was also believed to be the first woman elected as President of the NH Registrars of Deeds Association.  Upon hearing of her death, Hillsborough County Commissioner Toni Pappas was quoted as saying "Everyone in Hillsborough County who knew Judith remembers her with great fondness.  She was a superb leader, a good friend, lots of fun and was very glamorous.  Her exemplary leadership will be remembered by all who knew her."  Another friend said he remembered Judith as a very pleasant, sharply dressed person in her attractive hats.

Judith was a member of several organizations, holding positions of leadership in some, and was active in Republican politics. 

Until Judith's health started failing, she and Earl have enjoyed retirement in Manchester in the summer and at La Casa Mobile Home Park in North Port in the winter.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 5 from 10 AM to 12 PM, with a service beginning at 11 AM at the Cremation Society of NH, 243 Hanover St, Manchester, NH. Guests are invited to a memorial luncheon afterward at the Puritan Back Room.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Judith MacDonald, to The Parkinson Group at 200 S. E. 1st Street, Suite #800, Miami, FL.  www.parkinson.org.  Questions: 800-473-4636 (Ext. 2).

To view the virtual guestbook or leave words of condolences, please see the online guestbook below.