Obituary: Mary Lee Juden (Née Jamieson), 71, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of Shoreline Cremation:

We are sad to announce Mary Lee Juden (Née Jamieson), 71, of Branford, passed away on April 9, 2024 after a long battle with scleroderma. She died peacefully in her home, surrounded by her children.

Mary was born on January 8th, 1953 in Wisconsin, where she lived, before attending Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Ireland at 14. She completed her education at Brighton School of Nursing in England. There she met her former husband, Ian Juden, with whom she had 3 children Iain, Clare, and Helen.

After living abroad, on 3 other continents, she returned to the United States in 1986, continuing her nursing career at Yale New Haven Hospital. She moved with her family to Branford, CT in 1991, where she resided til her passing and saw as her home. She advanced to be the OR nursing educator towards the end of her career before retiring.

Later in life, she met her love and partner, Edward Kennedy. They enjoyed 15 blissful years together. Mary and Ed shared a joie de vivre over the years, relishing many trips to Cape Cod, happy hours with friends, and endless games of cards. She lovingly appreciated his bad jokes and he loved making her laugh.

A wonderful mother and nana, Mary was nurturing and generous with her family. She was practical and self-sufficient, able to provide advice on all manner of things, and even a few impractical things. There wasn’t a better person to tell you the name for an ancient Irish soap dish. She leaves behind a family tradition of good times around the card table.

Mary was predeceased by Ed, her beloved longtime partner. She is survived by her children and their spouses; Iain Juden & Renee Yuen, Clare & Nivardo Lopez, and Helen Juden & Bradley Sherwood, as well as her grandchildren Evelyn & Owen Juden and Nathaniel & Julia Lopez. She is also survived by her sister Lani Pszanka (Richard), her brother Jim Jamieson (Kathy), ex-husband Ian Juden, her sister-in-law Jeanne Kennedy, and many nieces and nephews.

We welcome her friends to join our family in remembering Mary's indomitable spirit at a celebration of her life on April 27, 2024 from 12pm to 2pm at Cafe Fiore in Branford.