On Tuesday afternoon, June 4, 2024, at the age of 85, Elsie Suzanne Judd passed away peacefully in Corona, CA at the Corona Post Acute Care Home where she had spent the past seven months, with family members by her side in her final days.

Suzanne was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 17, 1938, to Elsie Josephine Maurer and Leonard Joseph Lyon and was the oldest of three children (siblings Linda and Mike). Her parents instilled within her lasting traits including a love of learning, good manners, tradition, her religious faith, and an admiration for the beauties of nature. 

At an early age, Suzanne discovered a love of music and fine arts and was particularly drawn to Egyptian art. She loved to sketch/paint, and was an accomplished pianist, both of which became lifelong passions. She attended Hayward High School in CA and excelled in her studies, focused on dance at the Brigham Young Academy in UT, and later graduated from San Jose State with a Bachelor of Art degree. Suzanne taught piano lessons from her home for over fifty years, enriching the lives of many students and was nominated and presented with an Interfaith Ambassador of Peace Award. She was an avid reader of classic literature, mystery novels, and LDS church books, and loved to expand her knowledge. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many church callings throughout her life, such as chorister, Relief Society president, Sunday School teacher, and pianist/organist.

Suzanne had many admirers, but it was while she was attending San Jose State that she met her future husband, Jim Judd, at an LDS college dance. They were married and sealed for eternity on November 17, 1962, in the Los Angeles LDS temple. Their journey took them from California across the country to Massachusetts, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada, and finally to Fair Oaks, California—with children born along the way in many of those states. Suzanne loved to decorate and keep a beautiful home in each city they lived. Together they lovingly raised and provided for their six children teaching them to work hard, serve others, and be kind. She and Jim served as Family History missionaries in their later years and loved doing genealogy together.

Suzanne loved Jim dearly throughout their 60 years of marriage together on earth. Jim preceded her in death almost exactly one year earlier on June 10, 2023.  Suzanne is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who adored her, laughed with her, admired her, and were blessed by her Christ-like example and devotion to them.  She will be deeply missed by her children Jamie (Elaine), Jon (Christi), Joe (Sherri), Julie (Chris), Jeremy (Jill), and Jessica (Richard); grandchildren Josh (Morgan), Michael (Danielle), Rachael, Harrison, Chandler, Parker, Kennedi, Isabelle, Alicia (Preston), Abbie, Alex, Adam, Lauren, Kelly (Justin), Ashley, Emma (Art), Jonah, Elena, Lucy, Charlie, Eliza, Carson, Jacob, and Hannah; and 4 great-grandchildren.

Suzanne lived a full and purposeful life, influencing those around her through teaching, kindness and love, true friendship, and by giving of her time through church and community service. She leaves a legacy of doing good that inspires all of us to be better and more kind.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, June 29th at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (8267 Deseret Ave, Fair Oaks, CA). 

Memorial Service:

Saturday June 29, 2024, at 10:00 AM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret Chapel
8267 Deseret Avenue
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Memorial Service Live YouTube Link:  https://youtube.com/live/LtLaZvMQMSw?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, the Judd family suggests donating toward the study and research of Alzheimer’s disease.