Judith Roberta Fister Johnson, cherished mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, teacher, friend, and mentor, passed away on June 10th, 2025 after battling Parkinson’s Disease and a brief acute illness. She passed peacefully at her home in Fairhaven, MA where she was surrounded by family in her final days.
“Judy” was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1942 to Dr. Frederick Fister and Lorraine Thompson Fister. She grew up there with her younger sister Diana Fister Jordan, and fondly remembered also living briefly in Japan during her father Fred’s military medical deployment there. She returned to Allentown and graduated from Parkland High School. An exceptional student, she achieved her bachelor’s degree in French in just three years at Bucknell University. As a young mother and military wife to her first husband Edward Kroninger, she moved quite a bit, living in Alabama, Oklahoma, Chicago, and Michigan. She eventually moved back east with her second husband Bill Johnson, (deceased) to raise her three sons Mark Kroninger (eldest), Kurt Kroninger (middle), and Nils Johnson (youngest) by the sea in Mattapoisett, MA.
Judy was very energetic and had an insatiable passion for learning, reading, travel, and education. In her 30’s, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in education. She then embarked on a career in teaching, with a long tenure as an English Teacher at Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett, MA. She was very popular with generations of students, who fondly referred to her simply as “Judy” or “Jude” and appreciated her silly sense of humor and her dedication to going the extra mile to help pupils of all abilities, and especially those experiencing difficulties. During those teaching years, she loved to travel with her close friends to destinations including Europe, Canada, and throughout the USA.
The past three decades were truly her golden years. Her loving daughters-in-law Wendy Kroninger, Erin-Donnellan Kroninger, and Jennifer Johnson, blessed her with six grandchildren who spanned a wide range of ages (from oldest to youngest): Kurt Kroninger Jr., Wes Kroninger, Cole Kroninger, Katelyn Kroninger, Kai Johnson, and Jax Johnson. Spending time with “Grandma Judy” was always an adventure, whether it was a trip to the zoo, the park, Friendly’s, (for dessert before dinner), The Dollar Store, sleepovers, watching Jeopardy, playing card games, or simply doing fun projects and playing outdoors at her house. She doted on them non-stop, and they never missed a chance to spend time with her.
She will be dearly missed by her family and the many friends, acquaintances, and students who knew and loved her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church located at 27 Church Street, Mattapoisett on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson.org) in memory of Judy Johnson.
