In Memory of Judith C. Welles (September 4, 1943 – September 28, 2020)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Judith C. Welles who died on September 28, 2020 at the age of 77.

Judith Clymer Welles was born in Boston on September 4, 1943 to Eileen and Russell Clymer. She was the middle child, between two brothers, who grew up in Wellesley Hills, MA. Judy was also a third-generation New England Unitarian. Her childhood in Unitarian Sunday School gave way to her active involvement in the New England Regional Liberal Religious Youth (LRY) and as an adult, Judy referred to her faith as “an unwavering anchor line” that ran through her life.

After Judy earned a B.A. from Smith College in 1965, she found work at Massachusetts General Hospital as a medical transcriptionist, which led to a job at Stanford Medical Center. While in Palo Alto, she met and married her first husband, Andrew Gustafson. The couple moved to Ventura (CA), where Judy devoted herself to their two young daughters, Anne and Katy.

In Ventura, Judy was hired as the director of a new Planned Parenthood chapter. By the time she was invited to open a second clinic, Judy decided to take a year to discern the next stage in her vocational path. Since her family’s arrival in Ventura, Judy had been throwing herself into lay leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, and developed a close relationship with its minister, Rev. Frederica Leigh. By the early 80s, the notion of ministry had presented itself to Judy—but for years, she wrestled with the competing forces of that call and the needs of her two young daughters.

Eventually, the call prevailed. “I cannot think of a greater privilege than making it my life’s work to help people align themselves for the good of the universe,” Judy wrote, early in her ministerial formation.

In 1990, Judy entered Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. On the day that she was granted ministerial Fellowship, she met Duane Fickeisen, a first-year student at Starr King. They married in 1994.

In 1995, Judy was called to part-time ministry with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, which had been lay-led for several years. That congregation ordained her on October 22, 1995.

In 1997, the Revs. Welles and Fickeisen accepted a new startup co-ministry with Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley, in Carlisle, PA—which became a called ministry in 2001. Judy and Duane helped the congregation grow into a thriving congregation until their 2011 retirement, when they were named Ministers Emerita and Emeritus.

Rev. Welles’ service to Unitarian Universalism included serving on the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry, including as Chair of its Development Committee; as President of the Joseph Priestley chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association; on the Western Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy; as co-coordinator of the Unitarian Universalist Clergy Couples Group; and as President—among other roles—of the Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association. In her work with the latter, Rev. Welles helped launch UURMaPA’s Rainbow History Project to collect and archive the experiences of Unitarian Universalism (and particularly of clergy) as LGBTQIA+ rights expanded following the Stonewall Uprising.

In 2011, retirement from active ministry brought Judy and Duane to Portland, Oregon, where they became members of First Unitarian Church. Judy’s community involvement ranged from a breakfast book group and a weekly walking group to the knitting guild, Puddletown, that she helped found. She was also on the steering committee for Let’s Talk Climate, an organization to promote public conversations about aspects of climate change.

Judy cherished her nine grandchildren, reveling in being their “Nonna.” As her health declined, she expressed her biggest regret that she would not be around to see them grow up to adulthood. Nevertheless, she exercised agency as her life came to a close. Even on her last day of life, she was writing letters to encourage voting, in Pennsylvania, in the Presidential election in which she herself would not live to participate.

With her body slowing down and after the opportunity for final farewells with family and friends, Judy decided to exercise Oregon’s death with dignity option to hasten her death. She believed the process of dying would be “exciting, gorgeous, and unexpected,” affirming that “there’s nothing to be afraid of here.” She died peacefully and intentionally on Sept. 28, 2020, surrounded by loved ones.

Judy brought her love of life into her relationships, her work, and her engagement in the world. “I have so much love in my life,” she affirmed, “love going both directions: from me and to me; love moving through me.” She grasped all opportunities for wonder, growth, change, and joy. As a skilled knitter and gardener, she brought beauty into the world.

When asked, “How do you want to be remembered?,” Judy’s first response was, “I want people to remember how much I liked to have fun; my enjoyment of life.”

Judy is survived by her spouse, the Rev. Duane Fickeisen; by daughters Anne Gustafson (Marcel/Ford) and Katy Wells (Frank/Owen and Aengus); by stepchildren Michelle Vo (/Viking and Norway), Robert Fickeisen (Amanda/Odin and Opal), and Sarah Lowry (Brian/Utah and Juniper); by nine beloved grandchildren (named above); by brothers Jack Clymer (Di) and Nat Clymer; by four nieces; and by sisters-in-law Dana Fickeisen (Karen Frank) and Janice Millward. Also grieving her death is her former husband, Andrew Gustafson (Judith). She was predeceased by her parents, Russell and Eileen “Teeny” Clymer.

An online memorial service was broadcast from the Eliot Chapel of the First Unitarian Church, Portland (OR) on October 10, 2020.