Judith Grace O’Dell Tisdale

Judith Tisdale, 85, of Sammamish, Washington and Punta Gorda, Florida, welcomed into the kingdom of heaven on 6/4/2021 after an arduous battle with respiratory and cardiac ailments and infections.

Judy was born June 28, 1935 to Garold and Rowena Peck O’Dell in Clarkston, Michigan. In 1957 she graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Elementary Education, and in August, she married James Tisdale, a native of Lansing, Michigan.  They have 4 daughters, Wendy (Nolan), Amy (Mann), Allison (Régnier), & Julia (Blanchard).

Judy taught elementary education for 3 years and substituted for 12.  She was a passionate amateur vocalist, actress, painter and cook. Known to neighborhood kids in Wheaton, Illinois as “The Cookie Lady,” no child was turned away if a cookie was requested.  She also fed multitudes of teens and college students that knew where to go for good food.  She hosted adults as well, serving at company, church and private functions.  In later years she blessed many with her paintings.

She loved much and she was much loved.  She will be greatly missed. 

Judy was predeceased by her mother, Rowena O'Dell, her father, Garold O'Dell, and her sister Suellen Williams. She is survived by her husband, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Russell, Grace and Elsa Blanchard, Andrew, Miranda, and Olivia Mann, and Robert, Grace Rose, and Joseph Nolan, and Zoé Régnier. 

One of Judy’s favorite hymns was “Children of the Heavenly Father” (Sandell)

~v3 “Neither life nor death shall ever            
From the Lord His children sever            
Unto them His Grace He showeth            
And their sorrows all He knoweth”.