Judith Ann "Judy" Zachow

Born to life on January 30, 1942, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Judy was born to eternal life on April 5, 2023, in Mequon, Wisconsin.

Judy grew up in Shorewood WI, and along with her family, was a parishioner at St. Roberts. She spent her entire career at Children's Hospital working the night shift at both the old hospital downtown and new Froedtert facility in Wauwatosa. Judy was fast to make life-long friends wherever she went.

Back in the day, she babysat for kids of the daytime leagues at Strachota's Milshore Bowl. Entertaining and corralling a gaggle of kids for games and fun, and rewarding and delighting them by bringing out the popcorn bag, bigger than most of the kids there, that the Alley provided for snacks.

Judy lived a full life. She enjoyed travel with her sister Mary Jo and friends, both domestically and abroad. There were visits to her sister Helen and husband Paul, and their family in Missouri and then Kentucky. She delighted in visits with her beloved nieces Rosie and Kui Sook when hosting them here in Shorewood. She always provided a pile of gifts to amp the anticipation for the traditional game of Take Away Bingo, for birthday celebrations. She was active/supportive of the Girl Scout adventures which her sister Mary Jo invited her to join. Together they chaperoned trips domestic and abroad.  She avidly watched Jeopardy! and was always ready for a game of Kismet or Bingo!

Her favorite way to share time with friends was over a meal at a new or favorite restaurant. She frequently met friends for breakfast as she was getting OFF work, and had a few favorite haunts over the years, most recently Maxim's. Even in later years with mobility issues, Mary Jo would pick her up with her walker/wheelchair and set out for meals far and wide with friends. Never deterred by driving cross town or neighboring towns to try something new.

Judy was a devoted Catholic, delighting in attending churches as close as St. Roberts in Shorewood to St. Pius in Wauwatosa and Three Holy Women downtown. She loved the services that included a good musical component from choirs to acoustic ensembles. Back in the day, she used to make the rounds of the parishes that hosted a "guitar mass" each week, generally accompanied by a small ensemble singing hymns to guitar.

Her babysitting job for two little boys down the street grew with the family and developed into a lifelong friendship with the Bailey's and all five of the kids. She enjoyed visiting with parents Pat and Paul Bailey and scurrying the kids away for parental breaks, taking them to the Milwaukee Public Museum, Holy Hill, the Three Domes, bowling, camping at Yogi Bear's Jellystone park, historical sites, Atwater beach, the Circus, the Zoo, and then further travels to Michigan, Arkansas, Missouri and even England/Ireland with the girls. And who can forget meals at Village Inn, IHOP, Mama Mia's and Maxim's? As the Bailey family grew to another generation, Judy enjoyed babysitting and delighting this new generation of kids with the same manner of excitement of adventure, taking them bowling, to Chucky Cheese and beyond.  

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Gearald and Lorraine (Watry) Zachow,  nieces Rosemarie Ruth Starke and Kui Sook (Starke) Linsin and grand-neice Sarah Linsin.

She is survived by sisters Mary Jo Zachow and Helen (Zachow) Starke and Paul Starke, nephew Dennis Linsin, grand nephew Josh Linsin and Leean Linson and great grand-nephews Tanner Linsin and Grayson Linsin. Additionally she is survived by several paternal and maternal cousins and numerous life-long and newly minted friends.

Our grateful thanks go to the staff at Aurora Hospital-Grafton and Lawlis Family Hospice in Mequon, for the loving care and compassion you provided Judy and the support you offered her family and friends during this difficult time. Thank you!   

There will be a visitation and service at Wisconsin Memorial Park - Family Center at 13037 W. Captiol Drive in Brookfield, on Friday, April 14. Visitation will begin at 12:00 Noon with a service at 1:30. Lunch will follow the service. Private interment.

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