Judy Essington's Obituary
Judy Essington (Vanetta) was born on December 25, 1945, in the small town of Elroy, Wisconsin, to George and Vera Vanetta. She grew up in Elroy and graduated from Royal High School in 1964. After high school, Judy ventured to Madison, Wisconsin, where she worked for about a year before finding a more permanent position at a large insurance company in Milwaukee.
In January 1965, Judy met Bob Essington, and they married on June 24, 1967. During their nearly 58 years of marriage, Judy embraced the roles of a military wife, a foreign service wife, and most importantly, a dedicated and loving mother. As a military wife, Judy traveled extensively, living in Fort Gordon, GA; Baltimore, MD; Elroy, WI; Dayton, OH; Sierra Vista, AZ; and finally Sterling, VA. As a foreign service wife, Judy's first overseas experience was in Islamabad, Pakistan, followed by periods in United Arab Emirates and South Africa before returning to Sterling, VA.
Judy was a beautiful, caring, and loving daughter, mother, grandmother, and wife. She was a devoted member of Sterling United Methodist Church for over 25 years. Judy passed away unexpectedly on April 5, 2025, at her home in Sterling, VA.
She is survived by her husband, Bob; her children, Robert and Renee; daughter-in-law, Jennifer; her grandchildren, Robbie, Jocelyn, Dule and Tanner and her great grandchild, Eleanora. Judy was predeceased by her daughter, Carmen.
A service to celebrate Judy's life will be held on July 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Sterling Methodist Church, 304 East Church Road, Sterling, VA 20164. A reception will follow the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, friends from Royal High School, Elroy, Wisconsin, and others are invited to send contributions to Sterling Methodist Church or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
Judy's kindness, love, and dedication to her family and community will be deeply missed.
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