JUDIE BARBARA ALIMONTI

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JUDIE BARBARA ALIMONTI 1960 - 2017 Though the many months have passed, our dear Judie Barbara, beloved wife, sister, daughter, aunt, sister and daughter in-law, is still so greatly missed and so very much in our hearts and minds. Left to mourn her passing are her husband Alan Giesbrecht, father Dominico (Nick) Alimonti, brother Keith Alimonti (Lynnea Westlind), sister Nancy Alimonti (Douglas Baine), sister Cathy Carolei (Tim), mother-in-law Jessie Giesbrecht and sister-in-law Kathy Giesbrecht, along with five nieces, two nephews, a great-niece and two great-nephews. She will also be missed by her lifelong friends Sandra (Benzer) and Barry Straza. Judie was predeceased by her mother Sheila Barbara Alimonti in 1984. Also grieving her passing are her many friends and colleagues at the NRC (HHT- Ottawa), PHAC (NML-Winnipeg) and the University of Manitoba (HIV Group) Judie was born in Kelowna, BC, in March, 1960, to Nick and Sheila Alimonti, the third child of four. She graduated from Kelowna Secondary School in 1978 where she excelled in many extracurricular activities in her high school years including field hockey, basketball, soccer and jazz band. She continued her love of sport by playing field hockey and soccer into her adulthood in women's recreational leagues. In 1981 she attended and graduated from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in Sutton, ON, where she met her husband Alan. Together they returned to Kelowna and practiced for several years in their own clinic as Registered Massage Therapists. Judie decided to return to university and obtained her Bachelor's degree and then went on to achieve a PhD in Microbiology at the University of British Columbia. After graduation Judie continued her research career in Winnipeg proceeding to study cancer (CancerCare Manitoba), HIV/AIDS (University of Manitoba School of Medicine), and the Ebola virus (Public Health Agency of Canada). As a researcher with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Judie was highly instrumental in the development of the successful Ebola vaccine, donated to the World Health Organization at their request, in response to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2015. She subsequently coordinated and facilitated the worldwide distribution of the vaccine to various global partners. This vaccine is currently being used to combat recent outbreaks in Africa to this day. She was subsequently recruited by the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa (HHT Research Centre) and was currently working on a vaccine for the Zika Virus at the time of her tragic passing. At work, with her family and friends, Judie always maintained her modest and unassuming character. Her kind, caring and gentle manner always endeared her to everyone she met. She never forgot the true purpose of her work and of her life which she believed was to spread the love and joy of living to all she met and to be of service to those in need. Her family, friends and colleagues truly miss her shining light and will carry Judie's memory in their hearts for all time. Forever loving; forever loved. A Celebration of Life for Judie will be held on Thursday, September 27, 7:00 p.m., at the Tamarack Room, Qualico Family Centre, 330 Assiniboine Park Dr., Assiniboine Park.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 25, 2018