Judith Lewandowski

Visitation Date: Monday, December 27, 2021
Visitation Time: 3:00-9:00 p.m.
Funeral Date: Tuesday, December 28th, 2021
Funeral Time: 10:00 am
Place of Funeral: Salerno's Rosedale Chapels
Funeral Notes: During visiting hours, it is still recommended to follow the current State of Illinois Guidelines, and guests should continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

On December 21, 2021, Judith Lewandowski, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whom she put all her trust. Judy was the beloved wife of Joseph. Devoted mother of Jennifer (Mark) deRu. Dear sister of Dolly Nicholson. Loving Nonnie of Tiffany, Weston and Nate. Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews. Judy was born on May 24, 1941 to Joseph and Lillian Blafka in Chicago, as the younger and only sister to Dolly. They were close sisters, who always enjoyed time together (and especially playing various word games such as Scrabble!). She graduated from Morton High School in 1960, then in 1962 she met her lifelong love, Joe Lewandowski. On June 6, 1964 they were married. In their early years together, Judy enjoyed gardening alongside Joe and canning the fruits of their labor. She was always cooking the most delicious meals and baked goods. A few years later Jennifer was born, and that coincided with a long career of volunteering. Often during those early years she served as a home room mother at Jennifer’s school. After those school years ended Judy served as church secretary at Grace OPC. In the early 80’s they found that church, joined, and have remained faithful members attending weekly ever since. Her son-in-law, Mark, showed up in the picture in the mid-nineties, and when her three grandchildren came into the picture between 1999 to 2003 she began her retirement years, now volunteering as registrar and doing many other planning activities for their favorite “Camp Westminster”. That annual church camp was a constant and perennial vacation for the Lewandowskis and deRus for countless summers thereafter. There are many fond memories of those times. But camp wasn’t the only vacation together with the family. There were so many memories of ski trips, trips to Disney in Florida, trips to California to visit the other set of grandparents (Mark’s parents) whom Joe and Judy loved and enjoyed. A particularly memorable trip was the cruise with their family celebrating their 45th anniversary—Joe and Judy did enjoy many cruises together in their sunset years. Judy was a devoted wife and mother, who always looked after for the needs of her family. She worked part-time for many years as recording secretary for several townhome associations, a job she was so skilled at and sought after. But that work never got in the way of taking care of the home and family. We are so thankful for the life of love and concern she led before us and with us. We are most thankful that she has a faithful Savior whom she loved dearly, and in grateful response to all that Jesus did for her has lived a full life of faithfulness and service.