Judith M. Abeel

Judith Anne Mereness Wilcox Abeel, known to friends as “Judi,” passed October 6, 2015. She was 80 years old. Born in Chicago to Henry Martin Mereness, II and Mildred Carpenter Mereness, Judith Mereness Abeel was raised in Westfield, NJ where she made her home before relocating to Goose Creek, SC in 2006. She attended Rollins College and graduated summa cum laude from Kean University before earning a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University School of Social Work. She was a licensed clinical social worker practicing initially at Elizabeth General (now Trinitas) Hospital before going into private practice. She was an American Red Cross Certified Disaster Mental Health Worker who assisted in the aftermath of the 911 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. She was an accomplished skier, enjoyed sailing, and took up running in her mid-forties. She ran in three NYC Marathons, finishing in two. She was an avid reader, talented knitter and enjoyed gardening. She was active in her church’s choir and community outreach services. She was predeceased by her husband of twenty-eight years, Alan Chichester Abeel, Jr. and her brother Henry Martin Mereness, III. She leaves behind a sister, Sandi Lally of Columbia, SC, a daughter Cheryl Keith of Goose Creek, SC, a son, David Wilcox of Jackson, WY, a step-daughter, Karen Behringer of Newburyport, MA, a step-son, Christian Abeel and his wife Elizabeth Hall Abeel of Scotch Plains, NJ and Sharon, CT, as well as grandchildren Caitlin Keith, and Jeremy, Jessica and Martin Wilcox, and step-grandsons Alan and Ralph Abeel. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 17 at 3pm at the Goose Creek United Methodist Church 142 Redbank Road, Goose Creek In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Goose Creek United Methodist Church Food Ministries in care of Pastor Debra Dowdle, 142 Redbank Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445