March 15, 1939 – June 29, 2025
Judith (Martin) Royce, 86, of Reading, formerly of Lexington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29, succumbing to injuries sustained due to a car accident on June 24. She was the wife of the late Philip M. Royce, who passed away in 2017.
Born in Boston and raised in Lexington, she was the daughter of the late Leslie Donald Martin, and the late Evelyna (Hatton) Martin. Judith was a graduate of Lexington High School, Class of 1956.
Judith and her late husband Philip resided in Lexington prior to moving to Reading 45 years ago. She worked most of her life as an Executive Administrator in electronics at RCA in the space program where she met her husband Philip. She also held administrative positions at the Middlesex District Courthouse in Concord and in the banking industry.
Judith was a very talented, dedicated singer. She sang soprano with the Masterworks Chorale Society for 60 years, the Reading Community Chorus part-time, and she was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Choir in Reading. Judy loved to sing in chorus!
Judith maintained an active social life. She was a member of the Hillview Golf League of North Reading, the Anchor Club, the Lexington and Reading Garden Clubs and she enjoyed square dancing with Philip. She enjoyed the outdoors, her home, family and friends and was an integral part of the Reading Community for 45 years.
In addition to her parents and her late husband Philip, Judith was preceded in death by her brother, the late George Burnell and her cousin, the late Tamara Record. She is survived by her step-daughter Lisa Royce of South Yarmouth and her sister-in-law Mary Burnell and family. Judith is also survived by six cousins, Bonnie Ostrowski, Holly Descoteaux, John McTigue, Bill Northrup, Peter Northrup, and Scott Northrup and families.
Visiting hours will be at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. (cor. of Woburn St.) Reading on Thursday, July 31 from 4:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 95 Woburn St. (cor. of Chute St.) in Reading on Friday, August 1 at 11:00 am. Private burial will take place in Jaffrey, New Hampshire at a later date.
Contributions in Judith’s memory may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 95 Woburn St., Reading, MA 01867 (www.goodshepherdreading.org); or to the Reading Garden Club, P.O. Box 434, Reading, MA 01867 (www.readinggardenclub.org)
