Sister Judy Garson – Former LSA Family Health Service Executive Director – built up the lives of East Harlem families through her decades of commitment.

Sister Judy Garson passed away peacefully in the community of support of Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Albany, New York on November 3rd, 2025.

Sister Judy was a transformative figure in the life of Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service and the lives of the families she touched through her deeds and her leadership. She is remembered fondly by LSA’s board and staff who she worked with until 2008, as a woman with a clear vision and the drive to make it real.

Sister Judy inspired the support that built LSA’s new center in East Harlem – a place families could come to in full dignity and services could be connected to meet their needs.

A graduate of Manhattanville College and Columbia University, she played a foundational role in the Society of the Sacred Heart and went on to become principal of Sacred Heart Academy – a connection she carried with her when she came to LSA. She remained at LSA for a quarter century.

For Sister Judy, LSA was not a job – it was a calling:

 “I had a strong desire to live close to people who were poor, to learn from them and work with them; the status quo is never good enough. People deserve more, deserve better. At the very least, they deserve to be treated fairly. LSA Family Health Service is totally committed to the poor and does wonderful work with families – that’s why I wanted to come here…it was a place where I could learn just about everything.”

Sr. Judy was more than our Executive Director – she was the ​Heart of LSA. Her vision, humility, and deep belief in the dignity of every person shaped our mission and continue to guide us today. She embodied the spirit of our Daisy, a symbol of hope and light that reminds us of her unwavering love for the East Harlem community.

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The Mass of the Resurrection for Sister Judith Garson, RSCJ will be held at 11 am EST at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church on Monday, November 10. Burial at the Kenwood Cemetery of the Religious of the Sacred will follow the service. The address of the Church is 3500 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY 12303.

For those who cannot attend in person, the liturgy will be livestreamed:
Simply scroll down on the homepage of the Church’s website, https://smssgabparish.org and click the play button when it’s time for the livestream to start.  Or view on YouTube with this link: https://www.youtube.com/@churchofsmsandsga788/streams This will not be activated until they go live, around 11 am EST.