Longtime Hillsborough Local, Baby Blankets 'Loved To Pieces'

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A longtime Hillsborough local Judith B. Blair known as "Grandma Blair" to many was loved by all for her kindness and remembered for the hundreds of hand-sewn baby blankets she made.

Blair, 76, died on Monday, Aug. 19. She was a very long time resident of Hillsborough Township and prided herself in having a well kept home by being an outstanding homemaker who enjoyed baking and sewing and gardening.

An active member in the community, Blair was a member of the Hillsborough Women's Club, Hillsborough Baptist Church, and Montgomery Evangelical Free Church (Belle Mead). She also participated in the nursery ministries, Pioneer Girls Clubs, Choir Ministry and being a Deaconess.

When her daughters were younger she was involved in the Hillsborough schools' HSA and was a "class mom" for many classes.

Although Blair may be gone, a piece of her remains as she lovingly sewed receiving blankets for many new babies of people she knew and some that she only heard about and never met.

"They are treasured even to this day by the recipients. She kept a card catalog of the hundreds she distributed. She even asked them to be sent back to her for repair when they were 'loved to pieces'," according to her Hillsborough Funeral Home obituary.

Blair was predeceased by her parents Harry Louis Gordon and Lieselotte S. (Brueggemann) Gordon, as well as her sister Alma Lynn (Gordon) Lukas.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, the love of her life, Bruce Reynolds Blair, daughters Lisa May Roberts (John), Donna Lee Storrs (Craig), Dawn Blair Eelman (Kevin) and Linda Blair Graham (Tom) as well as her sister, Nancy Lou Gordon.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Craig Alan Storrs Jr, Deborah Lynn (Storrs) Ballantyne, Kathleen Grace Storrs, Joseph Paul Cusumano III, Kimberly Lynn Cusumano, Samuel Bruce Cusumano and Kelli Blair Eelman.

She is beloved by her great grandchildren Landon Michael Ballantyne and Riley Lynn Ballantyne. She was also treasured "Aunt Judy" to niece Kate Hamm, daughter Tori Paige Hamm, as well as niece Stephanie Lynn (Lukas) Weaver, daughter Abigail Morgan Weaver and Tyler Evan Weaver and nephew Stephen Scott Lukas.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hillsborough Funeral Home and the "Special Event" on Saturday, Aug. 24 11:00 am at Montgomery Evangelical Free Church (Belle Mead) to celebrate her life and God's faithfulness with a time of fellowship to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation in Judy’s memory to Friendship Center for New Beginnings, 162 Main Street Flemington, NJ 08822 or Good News Home for Women, 33 Bartles Corner Rd, Flemington, NJ 08822.

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