Obituary of Judith Rosemae Watson

Judith "Judy" Rosemae (nee Sacco) Watson, 78, of Delray Beach, FL, and formerly of Hammonton, NJ died after a sudden illness on Saturday, March 4 at Delray Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. Born on July 18,1944 in Vineland, NJ, she was a 1962 graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Hammonton. She earned a BA from Glassboro State College in 1966. With her creative mind and focus on discipline, Judy was an art teacher for 34 years, retiring from the Winslow Elementary School District in 2000. She enjoyed coming up with new and innovative lesson plans inspired by famed artists throughout the world for her students. Throughout her entire life, Judy was a dedicated community activist. She was President of the Hammonton Woman's Civic Club, recording and corresponding secretary for the Regular Republican Club of Hammonton, a Hammonton Swim Club board member, an HHS Band Booster volunteer and HHS Sports Booster volunteer. But her proudest civic accomplishment was founding the Hammonton Arts Center in 1996 with her colleagues and friends Betty Domenico, Cathy DeMarco and Sam Moffa. Judy's grant writing and public relations work helped propel the arts center into the great success it is today. She enjoyed teaching classes there and participating in the center's many events and workshops. After retirement and throughout her later years, Judy returned to creating artwork, focusing on clay and pottery. Her works filled with her love and pride have been on exhibit at the Atlantic City Arts Center, Bank of America in Hammonton, and Atlantic County Library West. Her unique works have been sold at the Hammonton Arts Center, the Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square in Delray, and the Flamingo Clay Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth, FL. While residing in Delray, she enjoyed her Bible study group, book club and golfing. She also served in the Country Manors Women's Group. She was an avid gardener and loved to stay up-to-date on politics and current events, always sharing her opinion. Judy loved traveling, cruising and going out on the town with the love of her life and best friend Mark, her husband of 56 years. Judy is survived by her loving husband M. Mark Watson; daughters Michele Donio, Susan (Mark) Leiser and Monica Kemp, all of Hammonton; sister Lorraine (Frank) Olivo of Hammonton and Delray Beach; grandchildren Chiara, Sophia, Mia, Lucia, Evan, Jackson, Austin and Siena; sisters-in-law Karen Watson, Patricia Wagner and Rosalie Watson. She was predeceased by her parents Marian (nee Ciocco) Sacco and Charles "Chubby" Sacco, and son-in-law Jason Kemp. Friends will be received from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023, and again from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Carnesale Funeral Home, 202 South Third St., Hammonton. Funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Donations in Judy's memory may be made to the Hammonton Arts Center by visiting hammontonarts.center.org/donation.