Judith Christine Tait

Judy passed away peacefully in her sleep at Maplewood Nursing Home on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. She was a faithful wife to her husband, Ken Tait, for 35 years. She was a loving mother to her four children: Connor (Kristin), Liam (Joanna), Cailin (Justin) and Shannon (Matthew). She will be missed by her grandchildren: Theodore, Margaret, Milly, Charles, Jenna, Henry, and the new granddaughter coming in October.

Judy was born on January 6, 1966 to Johannus (John) and Angela Luehof in Oshawa, ON. She was the second of three children. She was predeceased by her father, John Luehof, her mother-in-law, Margaret Tait, and her sister in law Tammara Boughen. She is survived by her mother, Angela Luehof, her father-in-law, Warren Tait, her older brother, Gregory (Patricia) Luehof, and her younger sister, Patricia (James) Patrick.

Judy’s family moved from Whitby to Ajax ON when she was a baby. She attended Lord Durham Public School there and then went to Harwood Secondary School. Judy took the health care aide course in high school and did her placements through that. She became certified and started working at Fairview Lodge in Whitby right after she graduated high school. She had a gift for working with special needs people, and went on many memorable trips with them. She worked there for a few years and then went to work at Christian Horizons. She was also a big part of Beacon Bible Camp in the summers, even working in their kitchen as a cook a few times.

Judy met Ken Tait while they were both working at Christian Horizons. They were married on June 23, 1990. They first lived in an apartment in Bowmanville ON. Their first two children (their sons) were born in 1991 (Connor) and 1992 (Liam). They moved to their home in Castleton ON in 1993. Their daughters were born in 1996 (Cailin) and 1999 (Shannon).

Judy started dog breeding in 2001 (Labrador retrievers and Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers) and became a registered dog breeder (under the kennel name of Ardbrae Kennels) a few years later. She was a huge animal lover (enjoyed riding horses etc.) but especially loved dogs and had a gift for working with them. She was a successful dog breeder for 18 years. She also did dock diving with some of her dogs, obedience and confirmation classes, and became a certified dog trainer. While doing all of that, she also homeschooled all four of her children all the way through to the end of high school. After the kids had grown up, in the summer of 2016, she started working at Ste Anne’s Spa in Grafton ON as a house cleaner and was then promoted to a supervisor position in 2018.

Judy had a strong love for her family and she was so happy and proud to see all of her children accept Jesus, grow in independence and maturity, and meet and marry spouses who also followed Jesus. She had a gift for decorating and used that gift at her children’s wedding showers and weddings. One of the greatest desires and joys of her life was her precious grandchildren! She threw baby showers for the expecting mamas, gave many gifts, was so excited when each grandchild was born, and showered them in love and gifts (anyone who knew Judy well knew that gift giving was definitely her love language)! She adored each one of her grandchildren and loved any time she got to spend with them.

Sadly, in 2021, when her first three grandchildren were still babies, Judy started showing signs of early onset dementia (though no one knew what it was at the time). And then in January of 2022, her husband Ken survived a life altering car accident. Later that year Judy was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, which is a specific type of early onset dementia that affects the ability to communicate. Gradually Judy lost the ability to talk and write and eventually could no longer communicate at all. She then started to lose physical strength and mobility as well. Because of these major changes, Judy had to go on disability from work at Ste Anne’s Spa. Her kids helped she and Ken move from their country home in Castleton into an apartment in Colborne in September of 2022. Judy was moved into Maplewood Nursing Home in Brighton in September of 2024. Ken was faithful to visit Judy regularly until the Lord took him home to heaven on July 1, 2025. Judy received great care at Maplewood and her family would like to thank the staff for all their hard work in caring for her right until the end.

We know that Judy is in heaven with Jesus, who she taught her children about, because of the decision she made to follow Him as a young girl. Although Judy experienced many earthly struggles, we know the Lord never left her and He walked with her, even on her darkest days. She is now free from her struggles, suffering, and illness, in the presence of Jesus, where there is fullness of joy. She can talk and walk and is completely whole again, and we look forward to the day we will be reunited with her! She has already been reunited with her husband Ken, who only went ahead of her to heaven by four short weeks. And like Ken, her salvation and hope of heaven rested in the death and resurrection of her Saviour, Jesus Christ. This verse captures what Judy’s faith rested in: “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

Judy’s final care has been entrusted to MacCoubrey Funeral Home, Cobourg. A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Fellowship Baptist Church, Cobourg in the gymnasium (469 Elgin St W, Cobourg) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, with a Celebration of Life beginning at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hope Valley Day Camp.