Judith Ann (Stacey) Short

Judith Ann Short, age 78, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

She was born in Orange, MA on March 11, 1948 and her family came to Delaware in 1965 when her father was transferred to Dover to where General Foods had moved their manufacturing plant.

Judith was the spouse of Elmer Short who she met in 1965 at Dover High School. They shared 58 years of marriage. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Delaware and was hired by the State of Delaware where she worked as a teacher, computer instructor, and later as principal of Silver Lake and Anna P. Mote Elementary Schools, retiring in 2003.

Judy was an avid reader, many times finishing a book in one day. Her passion in life, stemming from childhood, was to own her own horse. She realized that dream with 3 horses of her own and caring for many more at local farms. She loved caring for the horses more than the riding experience. When she had a stroke in 2015 while riding her horse, the horse led her back to the barn for help.

She is survived by her husband, Elmer T. Short; and their daughter, Stacey L. Contini. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Warren P. and Margaret (Mackay) Stacey; and her brother, Mark Stacey.

The Short family would like to extend special thanks to Kentmere Rehabilitation and Nursing Home for their loving care.

No services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Judy’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011.

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