Judith A Hays

In Loving Memory of Judith A. Hays (Burdick) October 13, 1944 – August 9, 2025
With grateful hearts for a life well lived, we announce that Judith A. Hays entered her eternal rest on August 9, 2025, at the age of 80. She passed peacefully; upheld by the faith she had cherished every day of her life.
Judith was born in Big Spring, Texas, on October 13, 1944, the daughter of Jack and Jeanellyn Burdick and spent her early years in Wisconsin and Decatur, Illinois. She went on to build her home and raise her family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, later enjoying retirement in Lake of the Dells, Wisconsin and Valparaiso, Indiana.
A devoted wife, loving mother, Grandmother, cherished sister, and faithful friend, Judith lived her life anchored in her Christian faith. She was known for her deep commitment to reading the Bible daily and for a prayer life that was both powerful and tender. More than anything, she was a doer of the Word and not a hearer only-her actions reflected her beliefs in every season of her life.
She is survived by her husband, John; her children, John Jr. (Carolyn) and Dr. Stacey Schmidt (Richard); her sister, Barb (Bob) Freeman and grandchildren Erin (Bob) de Groot, Hannah (Alec) Lambrecht, Elisa Hays, Jack Hays, Bethany Hays, Jonathan Schmidt and David Schmidt. Each of them carries forward her legacy of faith, kindness, and steadfast love.
Judith's presence was a quiet yet powerful light. She had the gift of making people feel seen, heard, and valued, and her home was always a place of welcome. Her faith was not only professed but lived-in the way she cared for others, in the prayers she lifted for friends and family, and in the way she met life's trials with grace and trust in God. Jesus welcomed her home with the following Bible verse:
"Well done, good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord." - Matthew 25:23
Judith will be missed deeply, but the seeds she planted in the lives of those she touched will continue to grow for generations to come.