Judy Pierre

PAID OBITUARY

Judy Vivian Pierre (nee Rinehart) was born to eternal life on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, at the age of 78 at Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee Hospital.

Judy was born to life on March 19, 1940, in Milwaukee. She grew up in a farmhouse in rural Mequon and graduated from Cedarburg High School in 1958 while working at the first Sendik’s in Whitefish Bay.

Judy met Eugene Pierre on Jan. 11, 1959, at Weiler’s Ballroom, now Memories Ballroom, in the Town of Port Washington. After three years of dating, they married on June 24, 1961, in Mequon at St.

James Catholic Church, right next to her childhood home.

Judy and Gene had three kids by 1967, and another on the way when they bought a house in Cedarburg, where Judy resided for the remainder of her earthly life except for trips up north to favored Crandon and to Germany to see her son Gene over the years.

Tony, Barb and Ken stayed closer to home and have grown up alongside Judy and learned from her up until her dying day. In total, Judy had five kids, but lost one, Susie, in a tragic car accident that left Judy with over 100 stitches and an offsetting broken leg and arm.

Judy was a strong, independent homemaker, both figuratively and literally, working nights cleaning at Carlson Tool and Door Cleaning while creating and maintaining her own household and growing children.

She was fierce during the right occasion, such as when she was featured in Life magazine for the “Facing the Facts of Life” picture during an intense philosophical debate within Cedarburg City Hall.

She was an avid bowler for more than 30 years, bowling for Cedars bowling team when they went to the state tournament often and had just as much fun catching up with the girls as well.

Judy could never go anywhere without knowing somebody.

She never made a bad impression and genuinely cared about all, whether you met while grocery shopping buying onions for her favored onion sandwiches or if you knew her for 20-plus years.

She was a city taxi cab without the meter who would pick up friends and acquaintances who didn’t have cars but needed to get to appointments, buy groceries or simply go to church on Sunday.

She welcomed everyone and anyone into her home and treated them like family.

Judy’s love of life was her family and she would give and do anything for them.

Judy was her family’s hero who could love and care with a heart larger than her body could hold.

Judy knew when to pick up a person who was down and could calm the seas. She always had a smile on her face and a wise and quick sense of humor, even in the darkest of times, that could brighten up a dungeon if need be.

Judy will be greatly missed by family, friends and acquaintances alike who continue to love her gratefully, forever and always.

Judy is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 57 years, Eugene Pierre; best friend and dear daughter Barb (Pierre) Burris (Jeffrey); and loving sons Gene Pierre (Claudia), Tony Pierre (Robyn) and Ken Pierre (Heather).

She is further survived by her brothers Richard Rinehart and Robert Rinehart (Darlene); grandchildren Tammy Pierre (Mario), Melissa Pierre, Jared Burris, Ashleigh Pierre and Troy Burris; cousin Delores Gust; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

Judy was preceded in death by her daughter Susan Pierre, parents Clare and Orval Rinehart; brothers Orval Jr. Rinehart and Tom Rinehart; as well as in-laws Gertrude and Ambrose Pierre; and sister in-law Carol Rinehart.

A Mass of Christian burial and visitation was held Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, at St. Francis Borgia North Catholic Church in Cedarburg.

Interment was at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Cemetery.