Judith S. Waterman

Judith "Judy" Shapley Waterman, 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, following a courageous battle with dementia. A longtime, cherished resident of Bedford, New Hampshire, Judy was a beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and creative spirit who brought warmth, beauty, and flavor to everyone she met.

Born on April 4, 1943, in Ithaca, New York, Judy was the daughter of the late Sanford Reuben and Elizabeth Decker (Coon) Shapley. After losing her mother to cancer at a young age, she was lovingly raised by her stepmother, Mildred, who served as her mother throughout most of her life. Growing up in Ithaca, where her father was an esteemed professor at Cornell University, Judy graduated from Ithaca High School in 1961.

Driven by an eye for style and curation, she attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in Retailing. After a brief move to California, Judy returned to New England, ultimately settling in New Hampshire to build her life and family.

Judy’s career path was as diverse and colorful as her personality. She was a woman of many talents who left an impression wherever she went. The Social Connector: She worked as a Mary Kay cosmetics beauty consultant and was a popular bartender at the Sheraton Wayfarer Inn, where she delighted in sharing lively stories about the famous people she met behind the bar. The Culinary Artist: Gifted in the kitchen, Judy was an avid baker and served as the talented pastry chef for the former UnWine’d restaurant. The Curator: She ultimately transitioned into her chosen field of retail, working within various Bedford galleries where she managed and curated fine-crafted gifts.

It was during her time managing these fine art galleries that Judy fell deeply in love with Southwestern and Native American culture. She and her husband, Jim, became passionate collectors, traveling to the Southwest as often as they could. Over the years, they curated an exceptionally beautiful and impressive collection of Southwestern arts and artifacts, which can now be seen at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH.

On July 29, 1978, Judy married the love of her life, James B. Waterman III, who predeceased her. Together, they raised their blended family of seven in Bedford. Judy's greatest pride was her large, loving family.

Judy is survived by her five children: James B. Waterman IV, twins Karen L. (Waterman) Niemyer and Andrea (Waterman) Leary and fiancé Tom Desrosiers, William C. Kinney and wife Brenda (Lamontagne) Kinney, and Scot M. Kinney and wife Rania (Khoury) Kinney; as well as her grandchildren, Christopher Kinney, Katelyn (Kinney) Beaudry, Joshua Leary, Makaela Kinney, Joseph Leary, twins Jesse and Garrett Niemyer, and Alia Kinney; and two great-granddaughters.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St. in Manchester from 4pm to 6pm. A prayer service will follow in the chapel at Lambert Funeral Home at 6pm.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or plant a tree in her honor.