Judy Dillingham

Judy Dillingham passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, in Elmhurst, Illinois, with her family by her side. She was 89.
Born in Elmhurst to Robert H. and Mary Louise (Curtis) Bloedel, Judy grew up with a deep sense of purpose, curiosity, and compassion - qualities that defined her life. After graduating from York High School in 1954, she attended Iowa State University, where she met and fell in love with her husband, Robert "Bob" or "Dill" Dillingham. Following their marriage, they set off on a cross country adventure due to Bob's role in the Army, spending time in Washington state and Oklahoma where their son Mark was born at Fort Sill. After Bob left the Army, they moved to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana where Bob pursued his Masters and Judy made a number of lifelong friends.
In 1968, they settled in her beloved Elmhurst just 2 blocks from her childhood home on Parkview. In 1969, she welcomed a second baby boy to the family with the birth of Scott.
Judy was preceded in death by Bob (June 2020), and her eldest son, Mark (June 2025). She is survived by her son Scott and daughter-in-law Jill of Winnetka, Illinois, and her cherished granddaughters, Halsey and Lane.
Despite her petite stature, Judy was a force of nature - an advocate, a teacher, a mentor, and a fiercely loving mother and friend. She often reminded those around her that "there is no such thing as a problem, just a creative opportunity," a philosophy she lived by every day.
A tireless advocate for individuals with special needs, Judy devoted her life to maximizing opportunities for others. She took great pride in her gardens, loved a good project - from home improvement to real estate development - and never sat still for long. Her career pathway took her from home economics and elementary school teacher to commercial interior design and construction. While she never got to be an architect - the new ideas, drawings, t squares and plans were ever present.
Judy built an extraordinary circle of friends and "adopted" family members from Hawthorne Ave and Parkview through York High (Hi to the '54 gang!) to bridge, mahjong, book clubs, P.E.O., and her treasured "backporch and breakfast clubs" Travel with her neighborhood friends, college companions and couples trips were a fixture and something was always in the works. A "second mom" to so many, she was always there with good advice and a hug.
She will be deeply missed but is now reunited with her husband, Bob, her son, Mark, and many loved ones - surely with a "to-do list" in hand.
A celebration of Judy's life will be held in May 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mark E. Dillingham Memorial Foundation.