Judith Rowand Hathaway

Judith R. Hathaway, lovingly known as “Judy,” of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, surrounded by her children and a dear friend. She was 88 years old.

Judy is survived by her three children, Holly; Lisa (John Stella); and Louis Edmund Hathaway IV, known as Chip (Patricia); and by her three cherished grandchildren, Hope Hathaway, Louis Hathaway, and Eloise Stella. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Louis Edmund Hathaway III (“Buzz”).

Born on August 15, 1937, to Lillian and William O. Rowand in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Judy spent most of her childhood in Padanaram, Massachusetts. Her home was filled with music, thanks to her father’s talent as a musician, and she developed a lifelong love of sailing and summers by the ocean. Judy attended Wheelock College, and following in her mother’s footsteps earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. She went on to enjoy a fulfilling career teaching elementary school.

Judy met Buzz during college through a mutual friend, and they married shortly after graduate school. Together they began their life in Manhattan before settling in Darien, Connecticut, where they raised their three children.

In 1998, Judy and Buzz began a new chapter on Hilton Head Island, where they built a wonderful community of friends and embraced an active coastal lifestyle filled with tennis, pickleball, and time with family. An avid bridge player, Judy, had a gift for bringing together the most unexpected groups so she could enjoy her game each week—along with her daily online matches. A devoted dog lover, Judy always had a companion by her side, most recently her adored Boots, who is now being lovingly cared for.

At 73, Judy embraced a new career, turning her love of fashion into a successful 10-year career selling high-end women’s clothing with The Worth Collection. She retired at the age of 83.

Above all, Judy valued family and friendship. She had a remarkable gift for maintaining lifelong relationships and staying connected to the people who mattered most to her. The friendships she built over the years, together with her devotion to her family, were among the great joys of her life. She will be deeply missed by those fortunate enough to have been part of her circle.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m.

St Luke’s Anglican Church

50 Pope Ave

Hilton Head, SC 29928 Virtual link: https://www.youtube.com/@stlukeshhi/streams

In celebration of Judy, guests are encouraged to wear bright attire (for inspiration, yellow was her favorite color). A virtual option will also be available.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to:

Volunteers in Medicine

15 Northridge Drive

Hilton Head, SC 29926

Giving - VIM

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry

PO Box 3827

Bluffton, SC 29910

Support Us - MiraSol Health