Judith Belle Tucek

Judy Tucek was born on July 2, 1956, into a large family which included nine brothers and five sisters on Long Island, New York. Her parents were John and Kathleen Nichols-Paradine. She left NY at a young age to seek adventure and a new life, choosing Arizona because she was traveling with a close friend whose grandparents lived here. For a while she worked at a shelter for abused women, putting her kindness to action. She eventually took a job working at Church's Chicken, where she met her future husband (of 42 years) Steve. They married and Steve joined the Army, transferring them both to Colorado. They gave birth to their first son together, Robert, in January of 1981. In her son, Judy found one of her greatest God-given gifts - nurturing and caring for children. Ten months later she gave birth to a baby girl, Kristi-Ann, in December of 1981. She was alone in their apartment when she gave birth, as the birth was premature and there was a blizzard raging outside. She spoke often of that day, but never with the drama one would expect. She was simply proud that her daughter had been so excited to meet her, that she couldn't wait for her due date! A year or so later, they were transferred to Germany, where she gave birth to her final child, Barbara (Bobbie Sue). Bobbie always brought excitement into her life and she treasured her love of reading, even when she would walk into poles. She also counted Steve's son Paul as one of her own children.

The couple enjoyed their time in Germany and always hoped to return, but were inevitably transferred back to Colorado, where she took a job working at a nearby daycare. This is where she would truly find her purpose outside of her own family. She was exceptional with children, and continued the work when they moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1991. She could get them to listen, learn, grow, and adapt in ways no one else could. The children in her care over her eventual thirty plus years of working first as an assistant, and eventually a lead teacher, loved her the way she loved them. They responded to her because they knew they could trust her to always do the right thing for them. She loved the job so much that when she was told she would lose her job without a degree, she immediately enrolled in college courses to achieve her Associates degree in Early Childhood Development to continue working with her beloved "kids". Around this time she began specializing in the care of children with special needs. There are so many stories of the lives she touched, but the fact is she went above and beyond for every single child who came into her care, as well as putting their parents at ease knowing she was trustworthy. Despite caring for hundreds of children over the years, she remembered each and every one of them by name.

She was a deeply spiritual Christian woman, who had a true relationship with her God and Jesus. Her favorite book was the Bible - she would read it over and over on her lunch breaks or on the bus, seeking comfort and wisdom in times when she felt lost, or rejoicing in it when she was content. She truly followed the teachings of Christ, loving and caring for everyone who crossed her path. She didn't have a judgmental or cruel bone in her body, and was always willing to help in a time of need. She stated that she was happiest at Hillside Baptist Church. She was (of course) a daycare volunteer, as well as being a member of the choir and of as many bible studies she could take part in. She loved sharing her faith with those around her. Despite this, she did not begrudge others their own beliefs and faith. She encouraged any seed of goodness in the world.

Her children grew up knowing they were loved regardless of where life took them, but she tried to be there to support their every milestone. She traveled with Steve to Robert and Bobbie's Army BCT graduations, and came to visit them as often as she was able as they started their own futures getting married and having children. She was overjoyed when Paul's wife, Anna, gave birth to their first granddaughter, Stephanie, 25. She also loved Robert's wife, Tracy and her son Samuel, 21, with her whole heart. When Kristi married her high school sweetheart, Michael, Judy was by her side to support and plan. She was at the hospital waiting when their two children, Shealeigh, 13, and Blaine, 7, came along. She traveled to North Carolina to be with Bobbie for the birth of her daughters Mackenzie, 16, and Lilly, 14. She took great joy in the lives of her children and traveled yearly to visit, but was thrilled when she finally had her two daughters and five of her grandkids living in Phoenix where she could keep watch over them and take part in their upbringing.

One of the things she loved most was the zoo. She loved all animals, consistently having more than one rescued animal at home. There was no animal she didn't love. She saw them all as God's creatures, though she had a special place in her heart for the elephant. She spent many days walking through the zoo with Steve, her children, grandchildren, best friend Carol or anyone else who wanted to accompany her. She also loved to take her grandson, Blaine, to the botanical gardens to show him the beauty which grew there. It inspired her to start gardening, where she battled the Arizona heat to successfully grow peppers, tomatoes, green onions and more. She took pride in appearing at every one of her grandchildren's concerts, recitals, plays, or sports games. When the cancer was diagnosed, she didn't slow down. She lived and loved even harder, knowing that time was drawing short. She never complained, even when she was suffering. Her primary concern was whether her husband and family would be okay in her absence.

There aren't words for the greatness in her soul, her boundless energy, or the way she loved and was loved in return. The cancer may have taken her body, but it could never touch the energy she released in her time on this Earth, which will continue to thrive through the memories held by every person fortunate enough to have met her. Those memories will inspire each of us to do and be good, and to leave the world a better place just as she did. She will live on forever as the waves of her kindness ripple across generations. She will be sitting in Heaven, watching us with a smile and a song, and loving us all to the moon and back.

She is survived by her husband, Steve, his siblings and their wives Dave (Kristy-Jo), Brian (Laurie), Dawn (Johnny); Her siblings Kathy (Joe), Mary, Laura, Timmy (Lora), and Lenny; More than 30 nieces and nephews and 38 grand-nieces and nephews; her children and their significant others Paul (Anna), Robert (Tracy), Kristi (Michael), Bobbie (Hank); And lastly, her grandchildren, Stephanie, Samuel, Mackenzie, Lilly-Ann, Shealeigh, and Blaine.