Judith Lynn Campy MacLeod September 2, 1954 – August 27, 2016
The Cree School Board was founded in 1978. The year after that, Judy Campy arrived in Mistissini as one of the first teachers to work for the CSB. She would become one of the community’s longest-serving educators, only leaving the profession for health reasons. Even then, Judy always kept in touch with former students and their children through social media.
Judy died after a tragic accident August 27, leaving a community in mourning. The celebration of her life on September 1 demonstrated the love of the Cree of Mistissini for a woman who chose to live the rest of her life there.
After Judy married Don MacLeod, she worked hard to learn the Cree way of life. How well the community embraced her was evident during a slideshow of her life at her funeral when a photo of a Cree Trappers’ Association card with her name and number came up. Everyone clapped and cheered.
Judy’s four daughters – Louise Margaret MacLeod Lemay, Kelly-Anne Malas, Krystyna MacLeod and Carrie-Lynn MacLeod – together took turns describing her life. The following is in their words.
Moving to Mistissini allowed her to meet some amazing people who helped her feel at home. They were also responsible for introducing mom to our father. They married on June 28, 1986. From there they were blessed with four daughters, one handsome little grandson and two son-in-laws. Their love for one another is something that is very dear to our hearts.
We believe that this is where she truly discovered her passion for teaching. At the age of 25, she moved away from her home down south to come teach in Mistissini. Mom used to always say that she hopped on a plane, travelled all the way to Chibougamau and found out which community she was going to be placed at when she arrived at the airport.
My dad recalls how brave and strong my mom was. He remembers how she adapted so well coming from a city that had everything, to moving into a place with my father that had no running water, no sewage system and had an outhouse. She embraced the Cree culture and traditions as if it was her own.
She kept finding ways that she could continue to teach, whether it be through her helping us with our homework or volunteering to teach little ones to read.
She loved reading, singing and watching others learn. Qualities that she will be remembered by are her kindness, warm hugs, encouraging words, focusing on the positives, laughter, and so much more. She always made everyone feel so welcomed and at home. She never judged a book by its cover. To many of you she became Aunt Judy or Aunt “J”.
Our mom taught us to be patient, to never judge others as we may not know what they might be going through, tell the people in your life that you love them each and every day, remember where you came from, be kind to others and to remember to take time just to listen when others may need it the most. She always would say, “If you got nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all.”
We always knew our mom was an amazing person but hearing stories of her and seeing how many hearts she touched we feel forever proud and blessed to have called her our mom.