Obituary of Judith Audrey Russell

Services will be in Santa Cruz on Wednesday and Thursday for Judy Russell who passed away at her Watsonville home on September 20, 2012 after battling prolonged illnesses. She was 68 years old. Judy was born in Antioch, California, and graduated from Antioch High School. She moved to the Santa Cruz area 38 years ago with her husband, and began a career in nursing that spanned over 40 years. Most of those years were with Dominican Hospital, working on the floors as an LVN, and later in administrative and nurse staffing for the hospital. Judy is a member of O.E.S. and in younger years, was a baseball mom for Little League and Pony League where her son played and her husband Jim, coached. She was a talented quilter and volunteered her time for Bingo at St. Joseph's Church in Capitola. Judy and Jim resided in Soquel, Scotts Valley and recently moved to Watsonville. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Despite numerous doctors' appointments and poor health in recent years, she was devoted to her family. Judy never missed her grandson's events in Martial Arts and Gymnastics; providing rides to practices, helping with fundraisers and remaining his biggest fan. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jim Russell, their son James Russell III, their daughter Jennafer Russell, and their grandson Jared Farst all of Watsonville. She also leaves her brothers, Al Brown of Colorado, and Alan Brown of Exeter, California; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends and colleagues in the health care profession. Friends may pay their respects at a viewing held at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel on Wednesday Sept. 26, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. The funeral ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Pacific Gardens Chapel, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be private. Any kind acts in her memory may be made to a college trust fund, established for Judy's grandson C/O Bank of America, (account #164102058401)