Life Story: Judith A. Walker Pastorio, 78;

Judith A. Walker Pastorio, 78, died April 1 at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Judith was born September 1, 1940 in Hyannis, Massachusetts to the late Austin and Gladys (Holway) Walker. She lived in Somerset and was previously from Hawthorne, where she graduated from Hawthorne High School. She was Head Majorette, Prom Queen, and was voted best-looking for her yearbook. Her friendships from that time remained important to her.

Judith earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Douglass College, where she had a strong circle of women friends still in her life. She earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science at Rutgers University while working at the University Library.

Judith loved to sing and dance; she sang in Philomusica Concert Choir of Middlesex County for decades. She also loved to garden and to spend time at the beach. She found joy in the simple moments and looked forward to sunsets. Above all, she loved to spend time with her family. While raising her children, she became Mom to many of their friends, whom she continued to cherish as friends of her own.

Judith is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, John Chapman of Somerset; her daughters, Robin and her husband Steve Sorg of Highland Park, Carin and her husband Gregg Rencher of Flemington; her son, James Pastorio and his wife Betsey of CA; her stepdaughters, Jenni and her husband Rob Roslewicz of Highland Park and Rebecca of Highland Park; her grandchildren Sasha, Gregg Jr., Austin Andrew, Sophia, Leah, Zach, Nathaniel, Jillian, Evelyn, and Harrison; and her great-grandchildren, Michael and Sara; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Gleason Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. April 5 and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6 at The Reformed Church of Highland Park on South Second Avenue. A memorial service at The Reformed Church of Highland Park will follow the visitation on Saturday at 1:00. She will be laid to rest on Cape Cod next week.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering at www.mskcc.org or at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center P.O. Box 5028 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.

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