Patricia LeBlanc Judice Ruckstuhl passed away in Baton Rouge on July 31, 2023 at the age of 93, surrounded by family. She was born on July 18, 1930, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana to parents Adam Joseph LeBlanc and Virginia Lou Ella Dill. She graduated from St. Vincent’s Institute where she excelled in varsity sports and academics. She attended Louisiana State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business. It was there that she met her future husband Carlton Alexander Judice to whom she was married for 44 years and had 5 children. She is survived by son James Judice; daughter Jan Lemoine and husband Jim; daughter Vicki Judice and husband John Koeferl; daughter Valerie Judice and husband Gregory Quartano, and son Paul Judice and wife Missy; 13 grandchildren Jenny Lemoine Isler, Jessica Lemoine, Jolie Lemoine, Jill Cummiskey (Derek), Jacob Lemoine, Katherine Fredieu, Charles Fredieu, Luke Koeferl, Joseph Koeferl, Anna Koeferl, Jack Judice, Nicholas Judice, Olivia Judice; and 6 great grandchildren, Cade Lemoine, Andie Clare and Drew Cummiskey, and Austin, Noah, and Joshua Isler. Preceded in death by her husband Carlton, her parents, her sisters Carolyn Songy and Loyce Waguespack, and second husband Richard Ruckstuhl.
Patricia made her home in Baton Rouge and was one of the founding members of St. Thomas More Church and School. She was a devoted Catholic, always striving to walk in the path of her faith. She and her husband Carlton raised their five children in the STM community and along with other couples, formed a Catholic Family Movement group which met frequently for decades to share food, fun, discuss their Catholic faith, and volunteer with charitable projects including the St. Vincent de Paul Shelter. She was a member of the STM church choir and served as the church organist for many years. She loved music in any form and loved to sing and dance. She was an expert pianist who delighted us with classical, country, Broadway and of course, Christmas songs. She passed on this love of music to her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed playing tennis, was a Life Master Bridge player, and played with the Baton Rouge Bridge Club. After Carlton died in 1995, she married Richard Ruckstuhl a few years later, enjoying time spent with his children Julie, Ricky, and Ken and their families, and remained his supportive partner until he passed away in 2014. Patricia was a devoted mother and grandmother and modeled Christian values. She was soft-spoken, full of kindness, and shared unexpected pearls of wisdom, many times delivered with her sharp, dry wit.
Special thanks to the staff of St. James Place where Patricia resided since 2014, and to the staff at Home Instead, especially Laverne Gambrell and Charlotte Watson who demonstrated true care and compassion for her. Family and friends of Patricia and her family are invited to attend visitation at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd. on Friday, August 4 from 9 to 11 a.m. with eulogy beginning at 10:45. A Catholic Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Charles Fredieu, Luke and Joseph Koeferl, Jack and Nicholas Judice, and Jacob Lemoine. All are invited to a reception following the Mass at Greenoaks Funeral Home Celebration of Life Center, 9595 Florida Blvd., from 12 to 2 p.m. A burial service will be held at 2 p.m. at Greenoaks Memorial Park.
