Judith "Judy" Joanne Perella

Judith JoAnne Jacopetti was born on July 3rd 1940 to Hugo J Jacopetti and Victoria M Jacopetti aka June. She was the second of four children. Her Siblings were Barbara J Jacopetti, Hugo J jacopetti aka Butch and Janniene M Jacopetti. She attended Sacred Heart for primary school and then Bishop Manogue High School, which is now known as St Francis. She became employed at Bank of America and married her childhood sweetheart Maurice D Perella on February 9, 1963. They bought a house in the Meadowview area of Sacramento.

She gave birth to her first child on April 22nd 1966 Laura L Perella. Laura fell ill at 6 months old with spinal meningitis and encephalitis. She was not expected to live but pulled through. Laura had to learn to swallow again. Judy made it her mission to take the best care of Laura that she could. Back then, they wanted to just put developmentally handicapped children in a nursing home because they didn’t know what else to do with them.

After a few years Judy had her 2nd child Denise M Perella on February 24, 1972. Maurice and Judy bought their second home at 6771 Frates Way in Sacramento in August of 1972. Despite her best efforts it became more and more clear that she had to place Laura. When Denise was a few months old, Judy made the most painful decision she has ever had to make and that was to place her first born as she was a danger to Denise.

Judy was always there for both of her children and continued to advocate for Laura throughout her entire life. She was the fun mom whom everyone loved dearly. She was a softball manager for Pocket Girls Softball and a band mom for John F Kennedy High School Band and Color Guard from 1986-1990. She continued to stay involved via the bingo hall for a few years afterwards.

In September of 1994 Denise was married to Eric Van Essen. Maurice and Judy helped to buy her first home in the Laguna area of Elk Grove.

Judy retired from the Bank of America in April of 1996. She worked full time since 1978. She had a lot of back and neck issues and it was becoming harder and harder for her to get through her day.

Denise and Eric made the decision to sell the home and move to Roseville in 1999. They moved in April of 1999. Soon thereafter Maurice and Judy decided to join the rest of the family and sell their long time home and buy and home in Roseville close to Denise. They moved into their Roseville home in July of 1999.

Judy became involved in St Clare Catholic Church and made some wonderful neighborhood friends whom she spent a lot of time with.

On August 22nd 2001 Judy’s first and only grandchild was born Ashley M Van Essen. She became a Nonna at last. She was over the moon. She babysat Ashley when she was little and spent a lot of time with her. She was for sure the apple of her eye. She called her “Sunshine”. Every time Ashley was with her, you could literally see her beaming. They had a very special relationship. In 2007 Denise and Eric divorced so Judy became even more involved with helping to raise Ashley.

Judy had continued trouble walking and needed a mobility scooter to get around. She was pretty mobile with the use of the scooter until about 2017. She was not able to make it to Ashley’s high school graduation in 2019 as her health dd not permit her to do so. She was heartbroken. The decline just kept coming. She eventually had to go on oxygen from COPD and she became diabetic.

Her husband of 59 years fell ill in 2022 and was diagnosed with Cancer. He passed away on May 19, 2022. She was not far behind. Judy had a stroke on August 10th and passed away on August 18th 2022. Judy will forever be known for her love and laughter. Live love, laugh was her moto.