Judith Ann Hedenberg of St. James, Missouri passed away at her home on Saturday, January 6, 2010. She was 68 years, 8 months, and 21 days of age.

Judith Hedenberg was born on April 16, 1941 in Decatur, Illinois to her parents: Harold and Ann (Strange) Melhorn.

Judy had two older brothers: Don and Clarence (nicknamed Dutch). She grew up in Decatur and lived there her whole life until about age 21 or 22. She married Bill Hedenberg in June of 1961. Judy graduated from high school in Decatur, Illinois and she attended Milliken University in Decatur for one or two years before she married. Sheryl (nicknamed Sherry) was her first and only baby and only son was born on February 19, 1965. Both Sherry and Dennis were born in Decatur like their mother. Judy moved around a lot early in life with her former husband, Bill. The cities she lived in included Decatur, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Detroit, MI: Wayzata, MN; Brooklyn Center, MN; St. Louis and finally to St. James, Missouri. She lived in Minneapolis around 1970 for many years before moving to St. James where both of her brothers retired. Judy worked as a nurse's aid, bookkeeper at a publishing company near Minneapolis; cost estimating at the advertising firm Campbell-Mithun in Minneapolis; real estate agent and waitressing at a local restaurant in town. When her children were young she was the only mom on the block to get out and play with the neighborhood kids in a game of kickball or softball. She would yell to her daughter from the bleachers and acted as her personal cheerleader. She was always trying to teach her kids to be a good sport; to say something nice or say nothing at all; to not interrupt people when someone else is speaking; to have good table manners; to always tell the truth and be the best person they could be. Judy was a room mother; helped with the school holiday parties. Judy and Bill bought a boat and the family would go on boating, camping fishing trips together. Judy loved to visit her daughter in Chicago and visit the historical villages, the racetrack, the shops and crafts shops, the vintage, antique shops and the gourmet shops. Judy wanted to go see Oprah Winfrey show so in 2009, Sherry got tickets for Judy's 68 birthday and it was on the day that they went to the show. Then they went to lunch at Bob Chin's Crabhouse and had Mai Tai's. What a way to celbrate her last birthday with her daughter.

Judith is survived by one daughter: Sherry Gilmore of Chicago, Illinois, and one son: Dennis Eugene Hedenberg of Maui, Hawaii.

Preceding Judith Hedenberg in death are her parents: Harold and Ann (Strange) Melhorn.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

Services
There will be a memorial service on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 4 PM at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Missouri with Lynn Huggins officiating. Songs will be Amazing Grace and In The Garden.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo.