Judith R. Hansen

Judith “Judy” R. Hansen - age 79, of Fenton passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at home with her daughter at her side. As she wished, cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held at 2:30PM Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd, Fenton. Visitation will be held that Thursday at 11AM until the time of the service.

Judy was born November 11, 1943 in Stambaugh, Michigan, the first of four daughters of Raymond and Andrea (Cederna) Hereau. She was a 1961 graduate of Stambaugh High School and went on to Northern Michigan University, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, a cheerleader and earned her teaching degree.

She was a committed educator and served in various leadership roles for 38 years before retiring from Fenton Area Public Schools. Most of those years were spent teaching third grade at State Road Elementary, just blocks away from her home. She was passionate about teaching and especially loved introducing her students to the field of science, her classroom filled with living, growing things of all kinds. She had a way of making learning fun and her students appreciated her wit even at an early age.

Judy was an avid reader and spent summers at her family’s Mullett Lake cottage devouring volumes of fiction when not boating or entertaining family and friends on the lake. She enjoyed the occasional casino stop with her sister, loved crosswords, Soduko, playing Euchre and games of Cribbage with her granddaughter. She liked to work in her kitchen, share recipes and was known for her amazing homemade soups that filled her family’s freezers all year long. Her tremendous spirit and sense of humor will be missed by everyone she knew.

She is survived by her daughter, Vicki (Klay) Dillon of Novi, Michigan; grandchildren, David and Kendall Dillon; sisters, Janis (Bill) Book of Marquette, Michigan, Joanne (George) Schafer of Clio, Michigan and Jeanne Smith of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; nieces, Sherry (Luke) Korpi, Gina Hall, Tammy Schafer, Braunen Smith, Melissa Schafer and nephew, Jon Hansen.

She was predeceased by her parents; son, Dennis Hansen; brother-in-law, Jim Smith and former spouse, John Hansen.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.