Judith Gallego

Judith Ruiz de Gallego
11/12/1921-5/9/2025
Passed peacefully in her sleep @ her home on Friday, May 9, 2025 surrounded by her beloved children. Judith was preceded in death by her beloved husband Gerardo. Together they had & raised 10 children in Colombia, South America. Until his unexpected operation went wrong. Even after her husband's death she continued their plan, only without him. The dream was for their children to have the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. She was preceded in death by her 15 year old son Jairo (attended East Hills Junior High School), one of her twin daughters Damarys Jaramillo & (Oscar), her son Luis (Nora), & just recently her son Heriberto (Ellen).
Judith is survived by her first born son, Gustavo (María Eugenia), Gladys (her late husband Barry Pope), Armando (Evelyn), Gilbert (Cindy), & daughter Patricia Walling (late husband Ted Walling) & daughter, Elena Basford (Joe Basford). "Juju"- who she was known by to her surviving 20 grandchildren & 23 great grandchildren, was loved and cherished by all her family & friends' that over the years became family too.
Judith and her children legally immigrated to the United States in 1965. They settled in Bloomfield Hills Michigan where they belonged to Saint Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church later when her children married, relocated & moved on, she relocated to Southfield, MI where she became part of the Shrine of The Little Flower Catholic Church..
Judy's first interest & priority was her family. She loved to cook & entertain. She had an abundance of friends and if you ever sat at the round kitchen table you were likely to have had the pleasure of a cup of coffee or tea and a slice of her famous Pound Cake. If anyone dropped in for dinner there was always enough for all. Some how the meal would grow & God would provide. She had love for everyone. While in Colombia, Judith on occasion would invite some poor kids into her home, they would get showered their shredded clothes disposed of and sent on their way after being fed & dressed in her own children's clothes.
She taught us to have faith in God, to have compassion towards others, that our cups were always half full, to always be grateful, never did she criticize another person. She was an exceptional friend. If someone was sick mom would make soup to take to them. If someone's family member was in the hospital she'd be there to support them. I never heard her complain. Even on her last day of life before I left her I asked her if anything hurt "no, I'm good" she replied. Her mind was all there. The night before, my brother Gil & I couldn't remember our nephew's children's names. We asked mom and without missing a beat she told us their names.
In this day when we rely so much on our tech devices & iCloud our memories fail us because our information is stored in our gadgets. Judith knew each and everyone of her kids phone #'s, nephews' & nieces' & of course her close friends.
On her 102nd birthday - one of her grandchildren, Claudia Dichtel asked
Grandma (while videoing her) Grandma you are turning 102 how do you feel? Judy replied very very well! Claudia asks what is your secret to get to 102?
Mom replied, eat well, sleep well and live in peace. Peace is the most important in a family!
The legacy she leaves behind are our children & their's after. We have had the privilege to have been raised by one of the most exceptional faithful, compassionate, brave, loving woman on this earth. We have done our best to instill in them those qualities & to be kind, patient, honest, hard working, to be ethical in all that they do, to have faith in God, Family, Love & PEACE.
She leaves a void in our broken hearts but she will be greeted by her husband, her parents, siblings, & her children, Jairo, Damarys, Luis & Heriberto.
Memorial will be held
Friday, June 6th at Shrine of The Little Flower Chapel @ 9:30 a.m.
Mass at 10:00 a.m.
& a Celebration of Her Life will follow