Christmas Angel

Have you ever met someone that would give you the last penny in their pocket, or the coat off their back in subzero temperatures? If you have, then most likely you’ve met Judy. She’s the type of person that puts everyone else before herself, and thinks of you before anyone else. Well that is unless you’re at Nino Salvaggio and she runs the cart into the 4.99 a carton blackberry display and they fall over the floor. Of course, at that moment she’s out of there before you can blink your eyes and you’re left with a big mess that you have to apologize for and slowly back away from. Need a snack? She probably has one in her purse waiting for you. Need some good butter? She most likely has the sample size for you in her purse, because let’s be real if we are going to butter that roll it better be with the good stuff. 

Need a volunteer? Judy is right there willing to help you. During the holiday season she spent time volunteering at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. You can’t forget about all the toys she donated to Toys for Tots, because she believed no child should ever be without. Who can resist a flamed-grilled Whopper Jr. from Burger King, especially when it is buy one get one? If you’re Judy the free one goes to the homeless lady who was sitting at a table drinking a coffee and eating a pie, because that’s all the lady could afford and Judy just can’t resist seeing anyone go hungry. If you’re ever at the Burger King at Avon and Rochester Road and see someone less fortunate think of Judy and get them a little something to eat.

Whether she’s stopping over to say hi or coming over for the holidays Judy never shows up empty handed. Returning Tupperware you know that it comes back with something in it, maybe it’s cookies or maybe it’s a little extra money – no matter what she made sure you had something.

Judy loved taking the bus to the casino, and the pickup was at Oakland Mall. Do you know what’s right by Oakland Mall? That’s right, Krispie Kreme donuts… yum. Judy would get a couple dozen donuts and share them with the ladies and gentlemen on the bus. One time she even brought a cooler on a bus trip and filled it with ice cream sandwiches because it was so hot and she wanted to make sure everyone would stay cool on the bus ride. Need more substance in your stomach? No problem, she probably has some tuna and egg salad sandwiches in a pita in that cooler as well. The casino was the thrill of it all, she wanted to win big, but not so she could be a millionaire and live in a big fancy mansion with six cars, she wanted to make sure her family was taken care of and the rest of the money would go to charitable causes. She never talked about what she would do for herself if she hit it big; she always talked about what she would do for others.

She saw the good in the world – like the time she was sitting at a slot machine winning, but noticed a purse sitting adjacent to her with no one in sight. She promptly got up from her winning chair, grabbed the purse and walked briskly to security where she turned it in. Only to find out that it was a decoy purse to catch bad guys, and she could of stayed at her winning slot machine…bummer.
Have you ever heard of the bowling team The Two Sisters? Well that’s Judy and Geri – sisters in real life, but despite popular belief by fellow members of the league not nuns. From strikes to gutter balls the memories created at the lanes were ones to last a lifetime.

Judy had an eye for decoration, especially during the holidays. At Christmas time step foot in the door and be welcomed by a life-sized Santa and see the beautifully wrapped family presents adorned with a bow of course, that add decorative detailing to the staircase. Walk into the family room and you can bet the table has a variety of candies and nuts to make sure her family and friends always have a little something to snack on. Turn to the mantle where you can see a perfect display of Christmas décor, featuring some of the most beautiful angels you have ever seen. On the opposite side of the spectrum if you want to be traumatized and completely afraid of the dark for the rest of your life, spending the night at her house was the place to be. Between dateline and ghost stories you can bet us girls are sleeping with a light on and our doors locked.

To her family Judy was known as Meeme, the best mom, sister and grandma that anyone could ever ask for. She had more love in her heart for her family than words can even begin to express, and when you look at the family you can see some of her most prized qualities in them.