Judy St. John

1948 - 2023

Judy St. John
June 25, 1948 - January 20, 2023
Boise, Idaho - On January 20, Judith Ann Hedrick St. John, a treasured mother and grandma, passed away peacefully at age seventy-four. The middle child of Jack and Marva Hedrick, Judy grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she had an adventurous, happy childhood, throwing herself into school plays and orchestra, riding her bike all over town, collecting animals, and getting into mischief on Sundays at her grandfather minister's Presbyterian church. She was sharp, inquisitive, and hard-working, starting her first job at the local drug store at 14. After graduating from Poudre High School, she began college at Colorado State University on an orchestra scholarship, playing string bass with the symphony. Eventually she packed her Volkswagen bug and moved to Los Angeles, where she finished college and began a master's degree in psychology.
In 1980, she reconnected with her first flame and high school prom date, Mike St. John. They would go on to marry and have two daughters together, moving to Boise in 1989. Judy was a gifted mother and made every day special, hand-crafting Halloween and dance costumes, staying up late to help finish school projects, and cheering her children on at every soccer game, piano recital, and swim meet. Judy was an avid reader and encouraged her daughters to check out massive stacks of books from the Library! weekly. She was always striving to make kids' worlds bigger, spending time not only as PTO president, but also room mom and art mom at Longfellow Elementary. Judy had boundless energy and enjoyed traveling widely, always with one of her daughters. They shared many adventures together; Christmas in Italy, cruising up the Nile, and exploring India were among her favorites. Judy was very close to her mother and took exceptional care of her until Marva died at 95. Judy was also a health and fitness devotee, becoming a personal trainer in her 60s. She was relentlessly dedicated to speed walking up hills and lifting weights in the gym.
In her final two years, Judy developed a challenging and aggressive form of dementia. Even as she began suffering, her tremendous spirit persevered, and she showered her newest favorite person, granddaughter Magnolia, with love. She delighted in picking out darling outfits, helping set up her nursery, and passing on books, clothes, and toys that she had saved. Her face lit up with joy, holding, laughing, and singing "Skidamarink" to her granddaughter.
Judy was fiercely independent but allowed herself to receive wonderful empathetic care from Marilyn Halpern at Aspen Care Services, who helped her live the end of her life with grace and dignity.
Judy left an indelible legacy of strength, generosity, humor, and love as well as incomparable cooking and baking skills that her daughters will endeavor to replicate.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents and Mike. She is survived by her daughters Shanna (Dan) and Taylor, and by her granddaughter "Noli." The family is holding a private burial in Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Colorado Guardianship Association in memory of Judy St. John through Aspen Care Services, so those in need can receive the same world class care she did.