Judy Church

A loving mother with a passion for her grandchildren, Judy Church was an extraordinary woman. Her life was not marked by glitz and glamour, but instead a stable and fulfilled commitment to the true bounties in life.

Judy was born on June 17, 1944, in Vicksburg, Michigan. She was the fifth of six children born to Thomas and Marjorie Peters. In order to support their fairly large family, Thomas worked long hours in a foundry. Judy received her education in the area schools and graduated from Schoolcraft High School in 1962. In few short months later in October, Judy was married to Thomas Church, who she met at a dance in Leonodis. Their marriage ended in 1971. Judy had four wonderful children, Lori, Pamela, Tom and Daphanie, who brought so much joy to her life. For a while, she and her children lived in Colon and Fort Wayne, Indiana, but they eventually went back to Schoolcraft to be near family and friends.

As a single mom, Judy worked as a cashier to support her family. She was always very resourceful and frugal-minded with the finances and knew how to make the most out of what they had. Although they had little, Judy always made Christmas a special time for her kids, and one of their most memorable was the year she got kittens for the family. In all things, Judy was there for her children, supporting them in their endeavors in life. In later years, when she was blessed with precious grandchildren, Judy poured the same amount of love into these relationships as she did her own children. Her granddaughter, Shawna, held an extra special place in her heart for she was born on Judy's 50th birthday. There was always giggles and love when Grandma Judy was around - in fact, her grandchildren often boasted that they had the "best grandma" ever.

In her leisure time, Judy enjoyed reading romance novels and watching her favorite soaps on TV, including the Young and the Restless, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. She was also a big fan of game shows, like the Price is Right, and going to the casino for some gambling fun. Moreover, Judy took an unforgettable trip to Las Vegas with her sister, Pat, and her mother, that left lasting memories for them all. All who knew and loved Judy will treasure her memory.

Judy Peters Church died at her home in Schoolcraft on Sunday, January 7, 2007. Friends may visit with Judy's family on Thursday, January 11, from 6-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 South Main, Vicksburg. Services for Judy will be on Friday, January 12, at 2 p.m. at the same location. Members of her family include her children: Lori Norton, Pamela Picklesmir, Tom Church, Daphanie Perry; brothers and sisters: Patricia and husband Robert Laings, Rich and Sharon Peters, Roger Peters, Robert and Christie Peters, Tom and Linda Peters; grandchildren: Jeremy, Nate, Cassandra, Connie, Tyler, Shawna, Josh, Stephayn, Matthew and Maegan. Judy will be buried in the Vicksburg Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.