Judy was known for her big heart and bright laugh. She was born in Chicago, IL and spent her youth in Saint Joseph, Michigan, surrounded by friends and family visiting the beach and enjoying the family farm. As the fourth eldest of Andrea and Joseph’s ten children, Judy enjoyed the role of caregiver to her younger siblings; a quality she would be known for throughout her lifetime.
Judy started her professional career in New York City where she graduated from and later worked for The New York Foundling Hospital. Her career brought her to working for the assistant to the publisher for the magazine, Emergency Medicine. After more than twenty years, Judy heard the beach call to her and left New York for the sunny city of Largo, Florida.
The pull of the city and family called to Judy again prompting a move to the Atlanta area. Buoyed by the love working with children, Judy and her dear friend, Barbara, opened a daycare that supported her community. The call of sales always excited Judy and she took a position with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Her years with AJC found her twice on the receiving end of the Salesperson of the Year Award for advertising sales. When she wasn’t pursuing her career, Judy loved to travel; Italy, Australia and India were some of her most memorable trips.
With all this excitement, Judy also loved the simple things in life. She loved to throw dinner parties and organize kids’ days for nieces and nephews, or the children of her neighborhood. When she wanted something quieter, you could always count on Judy for an afternoon movie matinee partner.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Andrea, and her brother, Joseph. She is survived by her sisters, Loretta Kasmer (Richard), Andrea Schaub, Ann Anderson, Margie Hayduk, and her brothers, Bill DeFay (Lenore), Robert DeFay (Ellen), Michael DeFay and David DeFay (Michele). Judy was blessed with an abundance of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 15th, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Bridgman, MI.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Judy to the following charities:
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (https://give.bcrf.org/give/33278/#!/donation/checkout)
Lake Michigan Catholic School Fund in the name of The Kasmer/DeFay Scholarship Fund (https://ollakers.org/giving)
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