Funeral of former Bishop's Stortford primary school teacher Anne Dudson
The funeral of a much-loved former Bishop’s Stortford primary school teacher has taken place today (Tuesday, June 18).
Anne Dudson taught at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Great Hadham Road from the early 1970s until she retired in 2000.
A devout Roman Catholic, she also guided many children through their First Holy Communion instruction.
Mrs Dudson died peacefully in her sleep at St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood on June 3 after a day surrounded by her family. She had been suffering from lymphoma. She was 79.
Mrs Dudson was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and met her husband Ronald, a year her senior, at a dance hall in Enfield in 1962 when they were both learning to bop.
The couple married in 1964 and welcomed their first child, son John, the following year. They moved to Bishop’s Stortford in 1967, the year daughter Cathy Cowler was born. Younger son Nigel arrived in 1969.
Mrs Dudson had started her teaching career in 1961 in Waltham Cross and took a break to raise her family before taking up her role at St Joseph’s, where her own children became pupils.
She and Ronald had 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson, Ronnie. John is father to Elizabeth, William, Richard and Grant Dudson; Cathy’s children are Laura, Dean, Adam, Emma and Liam Chapman; and Nigel is dad to Stella, Natalia and Madeline.
Son John said: “She only ever thought of others and spent her life helping others – she is in so many people's hearts.
"Even after retirement she only thought of helping other people, volunteering at a charity shop and the stroke club.
"A truly remarkable lady with the biggest heart I will ever encounter. Miss you, Mum."
Mrs Dudson was an accomplished cook and enjoyed crafting, card making, cross-stitching, painting and all artwork.
Her funeral took place on Tuesday morning at the Church of St Joseph and the English Martyrs in Windhill, followed by a private cremation. A wake is being held at the Harvest Moon pub in Friedberg Avenue, Thorley Park, from 2pm.
The family have asked for donations to St Clare Hospice in her name.
