Judith Foertsch

“Judith (Judy) Ann Foertsch, 73, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2022, surrounded by her adoring husband of 43 years, Rodney Foertsch, and loving daughter, Lisa Dawn Curran. She is also survived by younger brother Mark Harris. She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Jerry R. Hayden, Mother Rose Ann Harris, and brothers Tommy and Danny.

Judy was born July 10th, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Pa, and even though life gave her many places she called home, her heart remained in Pittsburgh where she will finally rest, free from pain.

Judy worked as a phlebotomist and lab technician and used her nurturing charm to make any child or adult fearful of needles feel relaxed and safe in her presence. She took care of every patient with the same kindness and attention that she had for family and friends and was loved by all.

Judy loved bargain shopping (and had the stylish closet to prove it), planting flowers, sewing, dancing, golfing, bowling, collecting precious moments, funny animal videos, caramels, and decorating her house with the most perfect little touches that made it a home.

To know Judy was to know unconditional love. She was strength, kindness, laughter, and warmth wrapped into one tiny, incredible woman. She saw beauty everywhere and would giggle with childhood joy at the smallest of pleasures. If you had a picture of anything cute you wanted to share, she was your gal, and would always reward it with a resounding “awwwww”. She was the type of person who played any game for the fun of it and never to win, because to her winning was any moment, she got to spend time with those she loved. She’d start snowball fights and water wars, and always (when you least expected it) would sneak her freezing cold hands onto your back when you were nice and warm. She would light up any room just by being in it, with humor, with spirit, and with heart.

And Judy was fierce. And selfless. She feared nothing and fought hard her whole life for those she loved. And none more than her late son, Jerry, who had a lifelong battle with kidney disease. Judy even donated one of her own kidneys to him, which saved and prolonged his life by many wonderful years. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family, which she cherished most of all. And she taught them all to stand tall and fight for what they believed in.

Devoted husband, Rod, will always remember Judy as “the prettiest girl in the world” and his “Hunny bun”. They didn’t care what they did, as long as they did it together.

Judy was an inspiration to daughter Lisa, who is so proud her mother taught her how to bravely love with her whole heart and entire being and will continue to shine Judy’s radiant light into the world. She is her mother’s daughter and will never forget what it takes to be an unstoppable force.

If you would like to honor Judy, she always loved flowers (but preferred simpler blooms to roses, and loved blue), but she also believed strongly in supporting the Kidney Foundation and Cancer Research, and donations there would also honor her memory.” https://www.kidneyfund.org/ In loving memory of Judy.

Friends are invited to a visitation on Friday November 11, 2022 from 4PM to 8PM at the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home 1032 Perry Hwy Pittsburgh PA 15237 (412) 364-4444

A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday November 12, 2022 at 10AM at the funeral home chapel. Entombment will take place at Allegheny County Memorial Park.