Judith Ann Roy (née Tepe) passed away peacefully in her bed at Vitality Living Arlington on July 22, 2021 at the age of 78. Her son was at her bedside for her final hours to ensure she remained comfortable.
Judy had resided in the memory care unit of Vitality Living Arlington for many years, where she was the delight of staff who appreciated her toughness, constant smile, and good humor that still showed through.
Judy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, during February of 1943 to her parents George and Wilma Tepe. She attended Withrow High School and a semester at University of Cincinnati before entering the workforce. In October of 1964 she married Anthony Joseph Roy, Jr., a marriage that would last almost 50 years. A few years later she became a mother with the arrival of her son Michael and the departure of her Ford Mustang convertible.
Judy’s life in Cincinnati revolved around her favorite sports teams (the Reds, Bengals and UC Bearcats), many volunteer hours at her son’s school, and her cocker spaniels Caesar and Callie. After many years in Cincinnati, the family moved to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, settling in Bethlehem as Tony’s Binney & Smith career brought him to Easton to work at Crayola’s headquarters.
In Bethlehem Judy’s volunteer activities blossomed, as she logged many thousands of hours helping at both Muhlenberg and St. Luke’s hospitals. She also generously donated food and supplies to a local animal shelter in memory of her spaniels that she could not bear to replace after they had moved on from this world.
Judy relished a good laugh and was known among her friends for her sarcastic wit, often delivered with drink in hand from the floating lounge chair in her pool or while behind the wheel of her red convertible, the arrival of which coincided with the departure of her son to start his professional life (bringing her automotive tale full circle).
A notorious early riser, Judy would enjoy the predawn hours watching shows recorded from the night before with coffee and some cigarettes, the latter a habit about which everyone knew and yet few actually saw.
A precipitous cognitive decline following her husband’s death in March 2014 prompted her placement in a memory care unit at a Lehigh Valley facility. Soon thereafter she was transferred to a facility in the DC metropolitan area to be closer to family and enjoy frequent outings with her granddaughter, Miria, who shared a special bond with her “Gammy.”
While Judy overcame a health scare in 2020 when she was hospitalized with COVID complications, her physical health was never restored after her release from the hospital. The decline involved additional hospital visits for recurring complications until she was ultimately placed under hospice care.
Judy is survived by her son Michael Roy, daughter-in-law Michelle, and granddaughter Miria in Washington DC; her brother Richard Tepe and his wife Linda in Orange, Calif.; niece Deborah Chrastil in Irvine, Calif. and her children Nicole and Alexis with husband Brian Chrastil; and nephew Thomas Tepe in King of Prussia, Penn. and his children Annie and Sam with wife Cheryl Tepe.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, July 30 at 3 pm in the Eisenhower Room at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC 20016 with a reception immediately to follow on the premises. The family respects and appreciates many mourners will want to take part virtually, so the service will also be live-streamed.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Judy’s name to honor the incredible dedication of the individuals devoted to Judy’s care in her final years. Donations payable to “Resident Council Fund” can be sent c/o Lisa Snow, Resident Council President, or Chloe Burke, Executive Director, Vitality Living Arlington, 3821 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203.
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