Judy J. Blenderman, 83, of Wayne died Saturday, April 15, 2023 at her home at Kinship Pointe in Wayne.
Judy’s wishes were for no services to be held.
Condolences and inquiries may be directed to Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne. hasemannfuneralhome.com
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Judy.
Judy (Judith) Blenderman was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Jan. 27, 1940 to Elbert and Leota Matthews, the second of four children. She grew up in Sioux City with her siblings, developing a love of reading at an early age. She graduated from Central High School and married Ted (Harold) Blenderman on Feb. 19, 1960. Judy and Ted raised five children together and were married for over 58 years.
Judy had a love of clocks and watches which, in many ways, captured her appreciation of things that were timeless and enduring, from the classic architecture of the county courthouse to the functionality of an empty Folgers can. She appreciated the beauty of the simple and natural elements of life, such as time spent in a meandering conversation at a table with a friend over a cup of coffee.
Judy was a stay-at-home mom for many years, caring for her five children, one who had special needs, and managed a demanding busy life with grace, “steadfast, as Keats’ Eremite''. She was a devoted mother and wife who modeled the value of educating oneself and instilled the love of reading in her children who watched her example of devouring a wide range of books. “In their vastness” she would “steal away,” often into the early morning hours, with “miles to go” before she’d sleep. As her children became school-aged, she had several jobs serving her community, one as a library aide, later as a nursing home caretaker, and eventually as an administrative assistant at NorthStar.
Judy enjoyed traveling not only through books, but also on the road trips she and Ted took together to all areas of the country. Their wanderings took them down “roads less traveled by”, stopping at diners for pie and coffee, exploring historic sites, and pulling over on dirt roads to take photos of decaying landscapes that would later be featured in Ted’s paintings. They moved to Pennsylvania for a few years to be near some of their children and grandchildren, eventually returning to Wayne, the place that was truly home to her, and where she and Ted valued the many long-standing friendships built over a lifetime. “That has made all the difference.”
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in.” Judy is now in her final home, and reunited with her family who preceded her in death, including her husband Ted, her daughters Laura Straight and Patty Blenderman, her grandson Kyle Straight, as well as her parents, and her two sisters.
Judy was most content not as the center of attention, but as the one shining light on others. Therefore, the family is honoring her wish to not hold a memorial service. Like the lines of poetry scattered in this obituary, pulled from the well-worn Poetry of Robert Frost anthology that sat by her bedside, friends and family carry precious remnants of her life intertwined with theirs. “Earth’s the right place for love,” and the love she gave remains. You can honor her life and continue the legacy of her love of stories by either reading a poem or story, or by writing down a memory you have of Judy to send to her family.
These will be shared with her surviving children Dave (Chris) Blenderman, Becky Blenderman and Sandy (Rob) Bohrer as well as her six surviving grandchildren and her four great-granddaughters; her brother, Joe Matthews, and her brother in-law Joe (Liz) Blenderman.
Cards, stories and memorials can be sent to 522 Lavina Dr. Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania, 17055 or a donation may be made to St. Judes Children’s Research H
