In loving memory of
Judith "Judy" Brodie
The family have chosen this music to commemorate their loved one.
Judith “Judy” Brodie
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Judith “Judy” Brodie (née Davis), of Boutiliers Point, on December 23, 2025, with family by her side.
She was the beloved wife of Paul; mother of Neil, Rachel (Greg Coldwell), and Sara (Tim Gillis); and sister of Susan Poirier of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. She was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Charlotte Davis, and by her brother, Richard, in 1971.
Judy was characteristically quiet about her achievements, but her family is deeply proud of the lasting impact she made.
Born in Montreal in 1940, Judy grew up in Westmount and later Hudson, Quebec. She attended McGill University, where she played basketball and hockey and was recognized by the Red Wing Society for her campus leadership and academic standing. Judy graduated in 1960 with a Diploma in Occupational Therapy and moved to Halifax to begin her professional career, working at the Halifax Civic Hospital, the Abbie J. Lane, and the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre.
Judy was deeply committed to advancing the profession of occupational therapy, playing a major role on committees that led to the establishment of Dalhousie University’s School of Occupational Therapy in 1982 and serving on the council that helped establish the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre. In recognition of her leadership and enduring contributions, the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT) honoured Judy with its inaugural Mary Black Award in 1987.
In addition to her work as an OT, Judy devoted many years to instructing anatomy at Dalhousie University’s Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology. A gifted and respected educator, she was honoured with Dalhousie’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005.
Judy loved to travel. This passion began in 1962, when she boarded the Empress of Canada in Montreal with friends, bound for Europe, where they spent many months driving through numerous countries in a Volkswagen Beetle — an adventure she delighted in recalling throughout her life.
She later travelled widely with Paul, including memorable trips to the Soviet Union, Finland, Mexico and Norway, as well as to Vienna in 2006 for the 250th celebration of Mozart’s birth. In 2003, the family travelled to Paris, boarding a converted barge to sail down the Seine. In 2017, she fulfilled a long-held wish with a bucket-list trip to China with Rachel.
A lifelong political activist, Judy was deeply committed to social justice and civic engagement, values she carried throughout her life. She contributed countless volunteer hours to federal and provincial NDP riding associations, steadfast in her belief that a healthy democracy depends on informed, engaged citizens willing to give their time and voice.
Creative and highly skilled in many crafts, Judy sewed much of her own wardrobe and clothing for her family when her children were young, including memorable matching outfits for her daughters. She and Paul invested enormous amounts of sweat equity renovating three homes together. In her later years, she found great joy tending to her wild and colourful garden in St. Margaret’s Bay.
In addition to her family, she will be deeply missed by her extended family, many lifelong friends, neighbours, fellow activists, colleagues, former students, and fellow gardeners.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to Dr. Jill Robertson and Nurse Tasha Terry at Crossroads Family Practice for their many years of dedicated care of Judy, and to the Emergency Department staff at both the Cobequid Community Health Centre and the Halifax Infirmary for their compassion and kindness during her brief hospital stay.
Judy was generous, principled, and possessed a wonderful sense of humour. She embodied the best of what it means to be Canadian – kindness and compassion – values that were shared by her friends and colleagues. In celebration of her life, please continue your own acts of kindness, with the words “Judy sent me.”
Please join the family on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 12:00- 2:00 p.m to share stories and memories at the St. Margarets Sailing Club, 5 Foxberry Hill Rd, Glen Haven, NS B3Z 2W2. Arrangements entrusted to Personal Care Cremations & Memorial Services.
“What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all” – J.S. Woodsworth
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SERVICES & GATHERINGS
Celebration Of Life
St. Margarets Sailing Club
May 31, 2026 12:00 pm
5 foxberry Hill Rd. Glen Haven, NS
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Service Note
Please join the family on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 12:00- 2:00 p.m to share stories and memories at the St. Margarets Sailing Club, 5 Foxberry Hill Rd, Glen Haven, NS B3Z 2W2.FAVOURITE CAUSES
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Judy was so important to the Rehab Centre, establishing a highly regarded driver evaluation program. She was a wonderful mentor to me when I joined the program and led me to work there for the rest of my OT career. She was so well respected in the driver evaluation community. My condolences to her family.
Paul & family
I only found out today ( May28) of Judy’s passing .
She was such a warm & kind person. I thoroughly appreciated & enjoyed working with her in our NDP causes as well as other meet ups .
Sincerest sympathy to you all.
Dear Paul and family. I join you all in saying ‘goodbye’ to Judy. She was instrumental in our early years to establish the School of Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University where I first met her, being a founding faculty member and new to Nova Scotia. She was hard working and visionary. I note in particular the valuable work she did to establish an Archive for the School of Occupational Therapy at the Nova Scotia Archives. Her work in Anatomy with our occupational therapy students was instrumental in their understanding of the body when they were considering how to enable people to participate in everyday life. With best wishes from Liz Townsend on behalf of the four School founders: Barbara O’Shea, Elizabeth Bell, Myra Kennedy and me.
Dear Paul and Family. I was so sad to learn of Judy’s passing. I certainly enjoyed our time working together on NDP “projects”. Judy was the first to get us started on the annual auction. It started of by her name – “The Big Sell”. At that time she said we would raise an amount equal to that received from all corporations by the Liberals and Tories put together. I came across this more recent picture of Judy & Paul and Jack. Peace, Joanne
Thank you so much Joanne for your kind words and for sharing this photo. Dad just shared memories with us of that visit Jack made to the south shore.
Sara
So sorry to learn of Judy’s passing. As a student, I had the privilege of receiving instruction from Judy in the Dal anatomy lab. I was then delighted to learn that Judy was a colleague when I started working at the NSRC. Besides being a font of knowledge, Judy could be counted on for her sense of humour, and her hostess skills at her beautiful home on Coburg Road.
Dear Paul and family,
It was with great sadness that I read of Judy’s passing. I always enjoyed her company. She was smart, funny, unflappable, young at heart, and always ready for an adventure. She had quite the list of amazing stories, and I loved hearing about them. I am sure you will miss her, but I hope that, with time, her absence will become a little easier to bear.
Paul, Neil, Rachel, Sara. Judy was someone i was always delighted to met up with at various (mostly NDP…but also Dalhousie Health Professions) events, or to work with planning such events! Always energetic, positive, creative, smart and in excellent humour, she was such a wonderful example of how to work collaboratively for positive social change. I’m very sorry for your loss.
Dear Paul and Family
My condolences on your loss. Judy had a profoundly positive spirit and encouraged that outlook among others. Her work for social change was reflected on her work in numerous capacities with riding associations and at conventions. May her memory be a blessing to you. I wish you peace at this difficult time.
Darrell Dexter
To Paul, Neil, Rachel and Sara,
I am profoundly sad to read about Judy’s passing! She was a great neighbor and friend on Coburg! I still have many of the plants in the garden and the garden car she gave me.Sendng you much love at this sad time.
Dear Paul and family,
We are diminished by the loss of wonderful, witty and wise Judy. She took me under her wing when I was a new graduate student in the Dalhousie Department of Anatomy. I had completed several anatomy courses at that point in my career, but I had never been a lab demonstrator. For me, Judie ‘demonstrated’ more than technical skills, she displayed compassion, fairness, and patience in teaching undergraduate students in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. Thank you Judie. I will not forget your smile or your laugh. Sail on.
Dear Paul & Family
We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Judy..She was a wonderful neighbour..I had the privilege of meeting and knowing Judy over the past ten years & grateful for the time we shared..In particular her kindness ,generosity and commitment to Social Justice was inspiring,The frequent neighbourhood gatherings will be remembered as a testament to her spirit and joy..Please know Michael and I are thinking of you all during this difficult time and we send our heartfelt condolences
Dear Paul and family, so sorry to hear of Judie’s passing. I worked along side her for many years in the anatomy department and enjoyed many conversations and luncheon with her and other colleagues. I had great admiration for her.
Dear Paul and family
Our most sincere condolences. Judy was a wonderful person, and will be very much missed. Our thoughts also goes to the family in this difficult and sad time.
Dear Paul and family,
Our sincere condolences. Judy was such a wonderful person. Always willing to share her knowledge and love of gardening to me. Enjoyed our chats immensely. I will miss them. It was a privilege to have known Judy.
Paul and family, I will remember her willingness to take on many roles in the ndp family. Wonderful woman who will be missed.
I will always remember the fine times I spent with Judy on trips around the province. She was always up for fun times! And all the work for her several NDP Constituencies!! She made a huge impact on the politics of our province. I regret not spending more time with her.
Dear Paul and family,
Sincere condolences. Judy’s passing is the loss of a wonderful woman. I always enjoyed working with Judy on many NDP campaigns. May your memories and the support of your family and friends help to ease your grief at this most difficult time.