Judy Kay Richardson

Judy Kay Richardson (nee Schlung), 86, passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at home in Beach Park, IL. Judy was born July 24, 1935 in Grayslake, IL to Margaret and Jack Schlung. Judy had A Wonderful Life filled with LOVE: for her family, her friends and her church. Judy and Ray were introduced as pen pals while Ray was in the Navy in 1957 and married on April 4, 1959. They were blessed with four children, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Her only regret was that they didn’t all live closer. And the dogs. Oh how Judy loved her dogs! From Brownie to Henry there were a LOT, and while most were greyhounds, her most beloved was a little whip-a-poo named Trixie. She always had a treat and room on her lap for one of the dogs. Judy was incredibly active in her children’s lives throughout the years, whether it was driving them to various lessons, enjoying their music concerts and recitals or leading the cheers at countless sporting events with her cowbell. She sat in the cold, the rain, the snow and yes, even the sun and heat. She knew the rules of every sport she watched and even learned about the rules of new ones as the grandkids came along and threw new sports like Tae Kwon Do and Hip Hop at her. She loved watching her kids and grandkids do what they loved, whether it was in person or on TV. She was their number one fan! Judy loved her sports teams! Her favorite team was the St. Louis Cardinals because she loved their uniform with the two cardinals on the bat. Her favorite story to tell (or was it urban legend?) was when her Grandpa took her and a girlfriend to a Cubs/Cardinal game at Wrigley Field to see her idol, Stan Musial. When the Cardinal players walked by the fans, Musial passed by and said hi to Judy. Her response? She cried. While her love of the Cardinals created a house divided during the baseball season, thankfully, her other favorite teams aligned with the rest of the family: Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks. Watching sports was very important in her house, and she was happy to explain the rules of the game to visitors, umpires, referees, etc. She also loved watching the Olympics and even got to attend a few events during the Atlanta games in 1996. She also enjoyed attending Milwaukee Bucks basketball games with friends, especially when Michael Jordan was in town. Judy loved Beach Park Schools. She worked in the district office for more than 25 years. She especially loved The Band program. She and Ray were Co-Presidents of the Band Boosters, where they made life long friends and played pinochle together. Together they helped organize band camps, volleyball-a-thons, spaghetti dinners and other assorted activities, including a fun fair that required dressing up like clowns. She and Ray chaperoned band trips, school dances & band parties. She raised her family to volunteer for anything and everything! Judy and Ray raised their family in a Wonderful neighborhood on Crissy Avenue for 31 years. The neighbors from Crissy and Ford were like no other. They quickly became family with the kids playing together all day and into the night until the streetlights came on. Judy loved a good gathering with the neighbors- making ice cream, hosting the kids over for swimming, picnics, baby showers, parties and countless celebrations. Judy was an active member of Our Lady of Humility Catholic Church for over 50 years: she sang in the choir, taught Religious Education, was the OLH Extended Day Program Coordinator, was a member of St. Vincent de Paul, and a founding member of the Bereavement Committee. She developed close friendships when she attended the first Christ Renews His Parish retreat. She also enjoyed monthly Trivial Pursuit get-togethers with friends. And of course, Sister Jane, her dear friend with whom she watched Notre Dame football games every New Year’s Day. She continued to knit Prayer Shawls up until her final days. Judy really did have A Wonderful Life! And while we know she was greeted with open arms by so many of our family and friends who went before her up in heaven, we can’t help but smile when we think of all those dogs that surely raced toward her looking for a treat. Judy is survived by her devoted husband Raymond, her three children: Sheila Pope, Kent (Marty) Richardson, and Jana (Tom) Donahue; four grandchildren: Trevor and Chad Pope, Caileigh and Jake Donahue, four step grandchildren: Gail (Gary) Koerner, Sara Feltman, Kevin (Nina) Bouvy and Keith Bouvy; two great-grandchildren: Jaxin and Jasper Pope; nine step great-grandchildren: Jack, Caroline, Jane and Matthew Koerner; Ben, Joe and Dan Feltman, Ella and Dean Bouvy. She has many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her dearly. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her son Gary Raymond, her brother George and his wife Carol, her brother-in-law Paul and his wife Phyllis, and her many Molidor euchre-playing family members. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Our Lady Humility Catholic Church in Beach Park, IL. Visitation will be in the church from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. with a funeral Mass immediately following. Private interment at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, IL will be held at a later date with family. In lieu of flowers, Judy requested donations be made to The American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.