Judith A. Conard

Judith A. Conard. The Lord called home Judith A. Conard, age 59, a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother on Jan. 29, 2005 after an illness with cancer. She passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family at HospiceCare in Fitchburg, WI. Her determined attitude, strong faith, passion for life, remarkable humor and love for her husband and family was unmatched and she will be greatly missed and remembered by all. Judy was born on Sept. 7, 1945 in Chicago, IL to parents Walter and Dorothy Marie, nee LeBold, Baldwin. She received her B.A. from Northeastern University and her Master of Special Education from DePaul University. Judy married Ron Conard on Sept. 18, 1982 at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Bloomingdale, IL. As a special education teacher for 37 years, Judy touched many young lives and encouraged each and every child to succeed on their own. For the last 15 years, she has taught at Madison East High School and led efforts to begin the school's work experience program. She believed that every student, no matter the circumstance, had the ability to succeed in the world. She was a trusted friend and confidant to many of her colleagues and a respected mentor to so many others. Judy was a faithful member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Madison and also a member of the Elks Lodge. She was a resident of Madison for 17 years. Judy was preceded in death by her beloved father, Walter Baldwin; sister, Mary Kay Baldwin; nephew, Kevin Michael Baldwin; brother-in-law, Richard Burke and grandparents, Dorothy Brenken and Norman and Marie Baldwin. She is survived by her husband, Ron Conard; children, Brian (Katie) Elwood of Hudson, WI, Colleen (Eric) Henson of Pekin, IL, Don (Carey) Elwood of Evansville, WI, Michelle (Bob) Jachim of Elburn, IL and Cheryl Riley of Geneva, IL; mother, Dorothy Baldwin of Wooddale, IL; brother, Kevin (Mary) Baldwin of Westchester, IL; sisters: Patricia Burke of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Maureen (Keith) Venard of Wood Dale, IL and Roberta (Tom) Keavy of Bensenville, IL; in-laws, Don and Marge Laubenstein of Sturgeon Bay, WI; seven grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews. A visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, with a 7 p.m. Rosary by Sister Georgeann Roudebush. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, with Monsignor Terry Connors officiating. She will be laid to rest in the beautiful town of Maplewood in Door County, WI. It is there for the past 17 years that she and her husband have spent countless hours remodeling their retirement home - a beautiful Wisconsin farmhouse that stands as a testament to their love for one another. A short service will be held at Noon on Friday, Feb., 4, 2005 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, Cty. Trk. H, Maplewood, WI. ''May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be ever at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly on your fields And until we meet again May the Lord hold you in the hollow of his hand.