Boscawen , NH – Judith “Judie” A. Druding, 85, of Boscawen, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Born on August 26, 1940, Judie was a lifelong New Hampshire resident whose warmth, energy, and love of life touched everyone who knew her. She graduated from St. John’s High School in Concord, Class of 1958, and carried the friendships and values formed there throughout her life.
Judie held many roles over the years, each reflecting her care for others and strong work ethic. She taught at the Patricia Holmes School of Dance, sharing her love of dance with her students. She later worked as a bus driver for the Hopkinton School District and as a cook at Week’s Restaurant and Maple Street School, where her kindness and reliability were appreciated by colleagues, students, and community members.
Active and adventurous, Judie served as a lifeguard and sailing instructor at Camp Bernadette. She was a member of Saint Matthew’s Ecumenical Dance Choir and the Concord Dance Academy Adult Competition Team, and she enjoyed luncheons with St. John’s High School alumni, playing cards, sewing, and watching sports. She loved dancing-whether teaching it or enjoying it herself-and treasured the companionship of her pet cats. Her passions reflected her spirit: energetic, fun, and deeply engaged in the lives of those around her.
Judie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Charles “Chuck” H. Druding; her parents, Henry “Ben” Demers and Emily “Tommie” Demers; and her cousin, J. Bradley “Brad” Smith.
She is survived by her children, Carin A. Walker and her husband Todd, Richard P. Druding and his wife Wanda, and James S. Druding and his wife Diane; her sister, Katherine “Kay” Connor; and her cousins, including Brigadier General Benton “Chick” M. Smith. She is also survived by four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Gathering at Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 172 King Street, Boscawen, NH, on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A private family burial will take place in the spring of 2026. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please visit https://csnh.com/.
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