Jude F. Carey

Jude F. Carey, 78, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, formerly of Rydal, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, April 23, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. Born June 29, 1943, in Norristown, PA, he was the oldest son of the late Francis P. and Miriam T. Carey (nee Horan) and named after St. Jude in honor of Mim's devotion to the patron saint of lost causes. He attended St. Athanasius Grade School in West Oak Lane. People love to collect things - watches, art, sports cars - Jude collected people. At St. A's, Jude met Jack Heidenry, Dave Campbell, Tom and Richard Gibson, the boys from the neighborhood, and their life-long journey as best friends began. In 1957, Jude started at Cardinal Dougherty High School, where his life would change forever. It was not the education he received there but the people Jude met that shaped his future. Dave Bissell became part of Jude's collection as they had most of the same classes together. When asked what kept Jack, Dave Campbell, and Dave Bissell together throughout high school, the response was, "Drinking beers on Friday nights." While that may have kept them together in high school, it was love and mutual respect for each other that held them as friends. One Friday night, while Jude and Jack were studying algebra, Jude suggested they stop studying and head over to Cardinal Dougherty for the St. Patrick's Day Dance. Jude met Patty Bell; Jack met Margie Blunt, and Dave met Peggy Kiernan. Jude introduced himself to Patty Bell as "Carey, Jude Carey." She went home thinking his name was Carey! It didn't matter what his name was; she was smitten. She was so proud to wear his high school ring as they started going steady, and she still had it in her possession when he passed. Fr. Donadieu, the Registrar at Cardinal Dougherty, noted that while Jude had "no plans of furthering his education in college…[he was] recommended very highly for employment as a page by the American Stock Exchange." And this began Jude's career path on the Stock Exchange. However, Jude answered the calling to serve his country and joined the United States Marines before too long. After his time at Parris Island, SC, Jude was preparing to deploy out of Willow Grove Naval Air Station when he collected another friend, Mike Kelly. Jude served in the Marine Corps until he was honorably discharged, having achieved the rank of Sergeant. After the Marines, Jude returned home to start his life in earnest with his beautiful bride by his side. Married on April 19, 1969, Jude and Pat started out in Salem Harbor Apartments in Northeast Philadelphia. Jude traveled daily up to New York City for his job as a specialist clerk on the American Stock Exchange. Before too long, the family relocated to Wyncote, joined Immaculate Conception, BVM parish, and started a family. Jude, Jr. was born in February 1970, Elizabeth (Beth) joined the family in 1971, Megan came along in 1974, and Moira completed the Carey Clan in 1977. Jude continued to collect his people as he added the Skis, Winks, and O'Garas as friends from Immaculate. Dinner dances at the Church Hall or just drinking wine and beers around the kitchen table, these friends were always a barrel of laughs. Growing up on Glenview Avenue was idyllic for the Carey kids. With the Burkes up the street, and TW Park around the corner, playing outside until the lights went on was their reality. Vacations down south, cruises to Bermuda, Christmases like you wouldn't believe! Through it all, Jude provided. No one ever went without because of Jude's hard work, persistence, and sacrifice. The collection grew more after the move to Jude's dream house on Noble Road. Jack McCarthy was always available to Jude as a mentor and dear friend. The Moses and Trauffers shared their families, snow-blowers, and pools. Jude always enjoyed walking across the street and sticking his feet in the hot tub. During these Jenkintown days, Jude started bartending at the Jenkintown VFW Post 1711. He may have found his calling. As he listened to the patrons, he poured them beers and added them to his collection. In addition to his life-long friends, his wife, and children, Jude loved and treasured his siblings and their children and grandchildren. Joe and Linda, Tonee, Reid, Verity and Justin, Stephanie, Amelia, Addie, Tragen and Vera, Bob, Turtle, and Ian brought him joy. It was a gift to have them come and visit for lunch in the last weeks before his death. Summer visits to Townsends Inlet, 4th of July Parties on Harrison Avenue, and parties in the basement were all times Jude cherished. Jude and Pat's love set an example for their children. Each child has married and started their own family, and Jude's collection of people to treasure grew even more. Jude and Christine, Beth and Graham, Megan and Brian and Moira and Steve always made Jude proud. Knowing that his children were married to wonderful spouses was comforting. And each of them was loved dearly by Jude. Jude's greatest joy was his grandchildren. He could not have been more proud of Seamus and Annie, Miriam, Jude and Gretchen, Molly and Maggie, and Libby and Matthew. While Jude was humble, bragging about those children brought him so much pleasure. He went to every game, meet, or match he possibly could and loved taking them to play mini-golf, picking them up from school, or bringing them soft pretzels and tasty cakes. And to them, their Pop-Pop was their world. When someone dies, those left behind pick through the collection. Jude's family has been left with the most precious collection - not of things but dear, dear people. Please know his family is so grateful to hear from everyone. The stories we have listened to have brought us so much comfort. Jude Carey lived the Christian ideal of Love - always putting others' needs before his own, whether his children, family, friends, or anyone you might find at the bar in the basement. Jude, Dad, Uncle Jude, and Pop-pop is already missed and will always be remembered. Friends are invited to call Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 11:30 A.M. at St. Luke the Evangelist, Glenside, with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12:30 P.M. Services entrusted to the Joseph J. McGoldrick Funeral Home, Jenkintown. Condolences: www.McGoldrickFH.com. Family and friends are invited to join us in the continued celebration of his life after mass at the home of Moira and Steve D'Intino. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions to St. Jude's Research Hospital www.stjude.org or The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal www.miracolusmedal.org.