Plaistow, NH: Dorinda M. “De” (Howland) Judson, 86, a longtime resident of Plaistow, died peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, at High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill, MA. Born in Dover, NH, daughter of the late John C. and Dorothea (Hurn) Howland, she was raised on Columbia Park in Haverhill and attended local schools. A member of the Haverhill High School Class of 1957, Dorinda was a direct descendant of Pilgrim John Howland. Proud of her heritage, she was a member of the Pilgrim John Howland Society in Plymouth, MA.

Dorinda married the love of her life, John W. “Billy” Judson, in 1959, and built their home in Plaistow, and together they enjoyed fifty-seven years of marriage until Billy’s death in 2016.

Dorinda was employed as an operator for the telephone company until 1964 and the birth of their son, John W. “Jay” Judson, III. She retired to be a full time housewife and mother and enjoyed creating a warm and loving home for her family.

Billy was a U.S. Navy veteran stationed aboard the U.S.S Forrestal and as “plank owners” they enjoyed traveling to reunions across the country, spending time with new and old friends. As a family, the Judsons enjoyed camping and snowmobiling and spent many summer vacations camping with family and friends in Damariscotta, Maine and the Old Stage Campground in Madbury, NH. Dorinda cherished the memories they made with their grandsons and friends.

A proud den mother for Cub Scout Pack118, Dorinda also spent many years as a member of the Plaistow Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and enjoyed dances and socials with her husband at the Plaistow Fish and Game Club. In her later years she enjoyed attending events at the Vic Geary Center in Plaistow as well as reading, gardening, completing puzzles, painting, drawing, crafts, and creating wooden crafts with her husband.

Dorinda will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her son and daughter-in-law, John W. “Jay” and Kelly A. Judson of Plaistow, two grandsons and their significant others Aaron W. Judson and Diana Aresco, of Plaistow Benjamin C. Judson and Erin Farrell, of Gorham,NH, a sister-in-law Donna (Judson) Foy and her husband John, of Newton, NH, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and her parents, Dorinda was predeceased by her brothers, John R. “Jack’ Howland, and Edvill Howland, both of Maine, her sister Carolyn Comeau of Merrimac, MA and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, John W. and Janie (Matthews) Judson, of Plaistow, NH.

Relatives and friends are invited to Dorinda’s funeral service to be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Plaistow. Private burial services will be held in the Spring. Arrangements are under the direction of Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home of Plaistow. To send a message of condolence to the family or to share a cherished memory, please visit: brooksidechapelfh.com.

Dorinda’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff and medical personnel that provided Dorinda with loving, personal and dignified care over the last seven years while living at Pine Hill Retirement Home in Windham, NH, Beaver Lake Lodge in Derry, NH, and Wingate Residences in Haverhill, MA. And finally special thanks to the dedicated, kind and compassionate staff of High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill for the care and support they provided to Dorinda and her family. We will be forever grateful to all of you.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Plaistow Firemen’s Association, 27 Elm St., Plaistow, NH 03865