Judith Lemirande

Judith Ann (nee Glime) Lemirande, a resident of Janesville, Wis., passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on April 18, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Judi was truly the matriarch of the family and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

Born on Oct. 1, 1940, Judi was the daughter of Alvin Joseph Glime and Emma Katherine Wotruba.

Judi grew up in Lena, Wis., and attended Lena High School, where she met the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Melvin Lemirande. They married on Dec. 7, 1957, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Lena and moved to Milwaukee, where they were blessed with three wonderful boys.

Eventually they moved their young family to Grafton, and Judi continued as a stay-at-home mom until the boys were in high school. Judi then began a career at Power Products, Grafton, as an assembler, then moved on to Rexnord, Grafton, as a supervisor, retiring in 2001.

Judi was an excellent cook who embraced her Belgian Bohemian heritage and made the best dumplings and poppyseed anything you could ever imagine. Her parties were legendary. It didn’t matter who you were, you could count on three things: good food, good drink and a warm welcome. Judi was the happiest when she was cooking for family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling every winter with her husband Mel to Arizona, where she welcomed countless visitors and created loving memories that will be cherished forever.

As a mother, Judi was always there for her children; she showered them with love and supported them in every phase of their lives. She enjoyed watching them succeed in all their academic and sports goals. As a grandmother, she shared that same love and devotion with her grandchildren. It brought her great joy to support her grandchildren in their many interests and activities. She loved going to her sons’ and grandchildren’s sporting events and cheering their teams on. She was their best cheerleader.

Judi had a close relationship with the Lord, and her Catholic faith was very important to her. She never turned away from a challenge and was a person for whom all who knew her aspired to be like. When attending weddings during the past few years, a popular game played during the reception was to determine which couple had been married the longest. After 63 years of marriage, Judi and Mel easily won this game and remained the last standing married couple.

She is survived by her loving husband Melvin Lemirande and was the mother of Patrick (Mary), Michael (Dawn) and Jeffrey (Anne); sister of Warren (Milvia) Glime, Franklin (Susan) Glime, Bradley (Janet) Glime and Daniel (Janet) Glime; proud grandmother of Lucas, Jacob, Bentley, Logan, Bailey, Conor, Kyle, Cara, Zachary and Grant; and a proud great-grandmother of Nicola, Harrison, Charlotte, Grace, Mya and Augustus.

Judi was extremely close to her late maternal aunt Esther Kanack. Judi was preceded in death by her parents and infant sister Mary Glime.

Visitation was held Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 10 until 11:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at noon at St. John Vianney Catholic Parish, 1250 E. Racine St., Janesville, with The Very Rev. Paul Ugo Arinze officiating.

Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Janesville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 11 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, Ariz. 85646 or https://stannsparishtubacaz.org/.

A video of the Mass can be found on the SJV Facebook page under the videos tab.

The family was assisted by Apfel Wolfe Funeral Home, 21 S. Austin Rd., Janesville. For online condolences: www.apfelwolfe.com.