Judith Jansen

1938 - 2025

Judith "Judy" Jansen (Edgell), 87, of Ferndale, WA, passed away on October 19, 2025, with her family by her side.

She was born on August 4, 1938, in South St. Paul, Minnesota, where she grew up in a busy household with seven siblings. The Edgell family lived in a small three-bedroom home with a yard full of fruit trees and a big vegetable garden. Everyone pitched in-especially during summer and fall when it was time to preserve the harvest. That sense of teamwork and family stuck with Judy her whole life.

Having lived through enough Minnesota winters for her liking, after graduating high school and working as a telephone operator in Minneapolis, she hopped on a bus with a neighborhood friend, bound for Seattle, WA. Judy quickly found work at the Boeing Renton Facility. Judy's job was in documentation, tracking and assigning new drawing numbers in the drafting department. She met a young draftsman named Ted Jansen. Ted seemed to need a lot of new drawing numbers; any excuse to interact with the cute Midwest girl from the documentation department. A friendship blossomed into a romance and they were married in May of 1958.

Judy and Ted settled in Kent, WA, and raised three boys: Dan, Rick, and Scott. Kent was full of great neighbors and lifelong friends. In 1967, Ted had an opportunity to move the family back to his hometown of Bellingham, with the opening of the aluminum plant Intalco. After a short stay in Ferndale, the family moved into Bellingham on Sunset Dr. in Bellingham.

Judy dove into school volunteering, PTA, and Cub Scouts-always showing up for her boys. Thanks to a little nudge from her sister-in-law Nettie Raber, Judy found a new love: bowling. She joined the "Mostly Mrs." league at Manor Lanes, became that league secretary, coached the junior league on Saturdays, and bowled with Ted on a mixed team in the Intalco league. She even worked in the nursery at Park Bowl. Bowling wasn't just a hobby-it was a community. And when bursitis flared up in her shoulder, she didn't quit; she just switched to bowling left-handed.

After Ted retired, they moved to Paradise Road in Ferndale, where Judy enjoyed a big backyard perfect for family get-togethers, gardening, and canning her famous green beans. She joined St. Joseph's Catholic Church and was baptized there, becoming active in the St. Jude's Guild and Outreach program.

Her greatest passion was her ten grandchildren. Her time of "Gramma" consisted of many sleepovers, camping trips, family dinners, holidays and Black Friday shopping. She never turned down a board game or a game of cards. She tried to make all the grand kids various sporting events, school plays and concerts. Judy instilled core value in each of her grandchildren that they were unique and very special.

Judy volunteered as a reading helper at some of her grandchildren's elementary schools. She also volunteered at the Ferndale Library and the Ferndale Senior Center.

After a stroke in 2022, and needing full time care, Judy was admitted to North Cascades Health and Rehab in Bellingham. She never complained-just made new friends and kept the staff laughing with her quick wit and humor. We're so grateful for the care and kindness they showed her.

Judy is survived by her siblings Nancy Schwalm, Carol Kelly, Willis Edgell, and John Edgell; her sons Rick (Elisabeth) and Scott (Tracy); daughter-in-law Jill Jansen; grandsons Russell (Amanda), Victor (Karli), Cooper (Kiersten), Ryan, and Brett Jansen; granddaughters Tamara Miles, Emily, Carly, and Claire Jansen; and great-granddaughter Alannah Jansen.

She was preceded in death by her parents Willis and Clara Edgell; brothers Robert, Jerry, and Clyde; her son Daniel Jansen; grandsons Andrew Jansen and Elliot Miles husband of granddaughter Tamara, and her devoted husband, Ted Jansen.

Judy lived a full, loving life-always giving, always caring, always laughing, and always putting family first. She'll be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St Joseph Catholic Church on 11/14/2025 at 10:30 a.m. located at 5781 Hendrickson Ave, Ferndale, WA 98248.