April 20, 1937 – December 30-2023
A lover of teaching young minds, of music, of family and community, this lighthearted, joyful presence, brightened every room she entered. Judith “Judy” Madigan was born on April 20, 1937, to Edwin John and Adele Mary (Kibbe) Madigan, in Mankato, Minnesota, and died peacefully in the early evening of December 30, 2023, at Carondelet Village in St. Paul.
Judy entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1955 where she was given the name Sister Mary Dominic. In 1960, she received a bachelor of arts in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, and a master’s in religious education from Seattle University in 1974.
A born teacher, Judy was missioned to many St. Paul Province schools including at St. Leo and Holy Spirit in St. Paul’ Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Minnesota, where she also served as assistant principal; and John Ireland in St. Peter, Minnesota, where in addition to teaching middle-school-aged children, she served as vice principal and religious education coordinator. She was recognized for her outstanding work as a Catholic educator by both the Jaycees of Marshall in 1982, and by the Medtronic Foundation in 1994. Judy considered teaching her greatest life accomplishment, stating: “With students, we had a wonderful time learning and laughing.”
After nearly 35 years of teaching, Judy put the benefit of her experiences to work at “Project 150,” where she along with other CSJ sister colleagues designed creative teaching materials to aid elementary, special education and home-schooling educators. They described this work as “teachers helping teachers,” and for many years offered workshops to teachers across Minnesota.
In 2002, Judy began a new ministry at Learning in Style, a Sisters of St. Joseph-funded school for adults seeking to learn English, computer skills, and citizenship preparedness. Judy flourished in this ministry, where she served until her retirement in 2013.
Judy’s welcoming smile and fun-loving, playful spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Judy is preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sisters Char Madigan, CSJ, Susan McGuire and Mary Gibbs; brothers Dick and Jim Madigan; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, friends, colleagues, and Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates, St. Paul Province.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., in Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, with burial following at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights. Memorials preferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministries Foundation.
Dear Judy, rest in love and peace.