Judith Nelson Jorgensen

Judith Nelson Jorgensen

October 21, 1933 - September 10, 2025

Judith "Judy" Nelson Jorgensen, formerly of South Bend, Indiana, passed away peacefully at the age of 91. She was the daughter of the late Marie Hauger Nelson Eckler (d. 1984) and John Christian Nelson (d. 1935). She was also predeceased by her brothers, John Nelson (d. 1987) and James Nelson (d. 2014).

A woman of deep faith and strong Lutheran conviction, Judy lived a life centered on family, music, and community. She met her husband, Paul Richard Jorgensen, while attending Michigan State University; they both graduated in 1955 and married that same year. She was a devoted wife to Paul, with whom she lived in Niskayuna, New York until 1992, and in Venice, Florida until his passing in 2016. She raised her family in Niskayuna, where she created a loving home filled with warmth, music, and laughter. In recent years, she resided in the Boston area with her son, Jens Jorgensen, and his wife, Kellie Jones, who cared for her lovingly.

Judy was the beloved mother of Julie Jorgensen Lohre (husband, Jordan Lohre) of Niskayuna, New York; the late Janis Marie Jorgensen (d. 2008); and Jens Nelson Jorgensen (wife, Kellie Jones) of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was also a cherished grandmother to Alex Bonk (d. 2023, survived by his children Bella and Declan), Samantha Bonk of Denver, Colorado, Jenna Lohre Brkich of Philadelphia (husband Marko Brkich, children Arianna and Katerina), and Jessica Lohre of Philadelphia.

Before raising her family, Judy worked at Bellevue Maternity Hospital in Niskayuna, New York. In the 1980s, she briefly owned a gift shop in Schenectady, New York. She also served as an election poll worker, played tennis and golf, and enjoyed countless games of bridge, dominoes, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and cards. A community organizer and loving mother, she gave generously of her time and energy to those around her.

A lifelong lover of music, especially jazz, vocal jazz, and bossa nova, Judy filled her life with song and her home with joy. She loved the outdoors and the beauty of nature, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was known for her rare gift of listening, making each person she spoke with feel like the most important in the world.

A memorial service will be held in the Spring of 2026 at Faith Lutheran Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, with interment to follow at Memory Gardens in Albany, New York at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA or Alzheimer's Association.