Judy A Ochs

Judy Ann Ochs, age 80, of Lancaster died in the early morning hours of September 24, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, at Penn State Lancaster Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late Clyde L. and Ruth E. (Miller) Groff. She will be greatly missed by her daughters, Holly Ochs of Lancaster and Heather Boxleitner of Hellam; cherished grandchildren Bailey DeLeon (Christopher), Alex Boxleitner, Mercy Nelson (Logan) and Savana Seery; great grandchildren Eleanora and Carter, and her fur baby Schubert. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Terry L. Groff and his partner Kenneth G. Emerson

Judy was a thirty-three-year breast cancer survivor, with fifteen of those years following a stage four diagnosis-- an amazing accomplishment.

She was a fierce advocate, not just for her own care, but to ensure competent, timely care and research for breast cancer patients now, and for generations to follow. Locally, she was a co-founder of the Lancaster Breast Cancer Network, and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Judy believed deeply in the power of networking and encouraged other survivors to make informed decisions about their care and ultimately to seek care where they felt safe. Her personal cancer journey led her to Johns Hopkins where she attributed her ability to defy the odds to her oncologist Dr. John Fetting and a dear friend Lillie Shockney, University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Lillie founded the Johns Hopkins Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Retreats and recruited Judy as well as another breast cancer survivor Judy Matthews to co-facilitate an annual retreat for stage four survivors and their caregivers. Judy functioned in this capacity most recently in July less than two months before her passing.

Judy believed that communication with the cancer patient's treatment team was critical to achieving the best outcome possible. She wanted to help break down the barriers that scare patients away from seeking palliative care and hospice care earlier in their cancer treatment plan.

Always a pioneer, Judy defied the survival odds with her resolve, positive attitude and fierce desire to help others. She served on the board of the American Heart Association, volunteered with the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the Schreiber Pediatric Rehabilitation Center and the Shelter for Abused Women.

The mantras for her breast cancer journey were "Don't postpone joy" and "Don't ever let anyone take away your hope." She participated in many clinical trials. She endured setbacks. She celebrated her and others' triumphs. For decades if someone was newly diagnosed with breast cancer, they would be given Judy's name and number to call. Judy helped take the fear and intimidation that often comes with a cancer diagnosis and transform that into a sense of empowerment that helped others fight their battles, guiding them with what questions to ask, helping them navigate the medical world and above all, encouraging them that all was not lost, that they could prevail over this insidious disease. She gave them strength and hope.

Judy was never shy about sharing the most challenging parts of her cancer journey not because she wanted sympathy, but because she wanted people to join the fight. She visited one of Johns Hopkins Research labs quarterly for many years, showing young researchers why what they were doing was important. She put a face on metastatic breast cancer, inspiring young researchers to work harder and volunteer to work longer days now that they really understood their purpose-- finding a way to stop the disease and achieve a cure one day.

Judy's passion for helping others was also evident in her prolific career. She retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Health in 2020 after a twenty-year career. As the Director of the Division of Health Risk Reduction and previously as the Director of the Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control, she worked to educate the public and advocate for laws to protect health. Her entire professional life was devoted to health. She was the Director of Development for Cardiac Consultants in Lancaster, and CEO and Partner of Cardio Data Tech, a cardiac monitoring service which she founded. Prior to launching her own company she worked as an office manager and lactation consultant at Beittel Becker Pediatric Associates.

Judy graduated from McCaskey High School, and the University of Maryland affiliated with Medical Secretarial School.She enjoyed reunions with her McCaskey classmates and maintained lifelong friendships. Judy was a faithful friend, full of wit and humor, reminding others regularly that a good laugh was good medicine.

In the end, Judy initiated a final selfless act by donating her body for research so new ways to battle breast cancer might be discovered.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11:00 am at a private residence at 340 Frysville Road, Hellam, PA 17406. In lieu of flowers, Judy's family requests donations to the following breast cancer research fund:

Please visit https://secure.jhu.edu/form/breast then select "other fund" and type in: Quality of Life Research Fund. In the fill in online document please designate that it is being given in the memory of Judy Ochs.

To mail a gift, the address is:

Surgery Programs

Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine

550 N. Broadway, Suite 722

Baltimore, Maryland 21205

please write on the check "quality of life research" in memory of Judy Ochs.