Judith Mayer Rhodes

Judith Mayer Rhodes, age 93.

Judith Mayer Rhodes died peacefully on April 8th after a 2-year journey with cancer. Born May 9, 1931, Judy lived an extraordinary 94 years, married to Richard Rhodes for nearly 70 of those years (until he passed in 2020).

She is survived by her children: Stephen (Sophie), Harry (Helene), David (Rhonda). Dear grandmother of 9 grandchildren (Benjamin, Julia, Henry, Elisheva, Alex, Liat, Dov, Avigal, and Eran), and 14 great-grandchildren. Her daughter Mary Ann preceded her in death. Mary Ann's husband Ron has been like a 4th son for Judy.

Born in Chicago, Judy grew up in Michigan City, Indiana, where she met her future husband, Richard. They both attended Indiana University and were lifelong Hoosiers. They lived in Missouri, Virginia, and the south Suburbs of Chicago before settling in the northern suburb of Wilmette, where they lived together for 53 years. Judy spent much of her adult life raising four children, a full-time job. However, that was never enough for her. She was very devoted to Judaism, to Jewish values and to synagogue life at Beth Emet where they were members since 1965. She ran the Gift Shop at Beth Emet for a number of years. The family never missed having Shabbat dinner together every Friday night, with Judy making a special dinner and homemade challah every week. She also organized holiday meals for the family and extended family. Her mother Frances and mother-in-law Sarah were always there for these occasions. Passover crowds were regularly between 25 and 30 people. Judy and Dick never turned anyone away. They lived the injunction from the Haggadah: Let all who are hungry come and eat. Judy always demonstrated a quiet determination and exhibited great strength and a big heart. Many are the extended family and friends who felt the warmth of her love and the embrace of her caring nature.

Her loss will leave a tremendous hole in the lives of all who knew her, but especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

May her memory be a blessing.

Funeral service will be Friday morning, April 11, 10:00 AM at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster Street, Evanston 60202. Interment following at Greenwood Cemetery, 153 Tilden Avenue Michigan City, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any cancer care organization, the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, www.alz.org or The Brennan Center for Justice, 120 Broadway, Suite 1750, New York, NY 10271, www.brennancenter.org. To attend the funeral livestream and for more details, please visit our website, www.cjfinfo.com. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com