On the 8th of may 1948 Judith Mary Stephens was born. She Lived in Auckland, Mt Roskill. She had a younger brother named brian who she loved very much. Her schooling consisted of Mt Roskill Primary School, Mt Roskill Intermediate and then Mt Roskill Grammar School, where she was Prefect. During school, Judith was popular and an accomplished netball player, in the position of goal shoot and goal defence.

After Judith finished school, she studied to become a teacher at teachers training college in Auckland, it was there that she fell in love with Ken Ring (my grandad). They were married in 1967. Judith, Ken, and their two children, Keri (my dad) and Miri (my aunty) lived on a bus and embraced a gypsy kind of lifestyle, travelling around New Zealand from 1970-1979. Unfortunately, in 1979 Judith decided to stay living a travelling lifestyle while Ken moved in to a house that was gifted by Brian (Judith’s brother).

Jude (Judith) had an aunt (Annie) on her mum's side of the family whom she was close to growing up. Aunt Annie herself, wanted to be a teacher so it has been thought that Jude fulfilled this goal after having the seed planted by her favourite aunt. Jude became a fantastic teacher, teaching Primary, and then later Intermediate over a 30 year period. She eventually became head of an Intermediate at an area school (Taipa Area School). She was passionate about teaching, particularly to kids who came from remote and underprivileged families.

She was passionate about poetry and brought that to her teaching which for many kids was the first experience they would have with this type of art. She also taught Kapa Haka and led several groups to regional competitions. Jude also loved craft and was an accomplished weaver of flax kete and seamstress. She was also a fantastic cook. She would often help out people and community groups by making apple pies and other delicious foods which could be sold at school fairs to fundraise to give to local kids opportunities they would otherwise not have.

She lived in the far north from 1979 until she died at age 47 on the 14th July 1995 from cancer at Coopers Beach. She will be remembered by the thousands of kids that she loved to teach, and in the hearts that she touched with her generosity of kind spirit.

Reference List:

Keri Ring (Dad)

Miri Roberts (Aunty)

Ken Ring (Grandad)

Natalie Ring (Mum)