Judith Ellen Brede, 79 of Rochester, passed away the morning of Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at Madonna Towers Nursing Home.
Judy was born Saturday, January 14, 1939 in Springfield, Minnesota to Herman and Vivian Nelson. She grew up on a farm north of Revere and graduated with honors from Walnut Grove High School in 1956. She moved to Rochester to attend Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing where she met and fell in love with Ardell. They were married on March 24, 1961 at Bethel Lutheran Church. She graduated with an RN degree from Rochester State Junior College in June 1971. Judy began her nursing career at Methodist Hospital in 1971 as a floor nurse and moved to the operating room where she worked until her retirement in 1994.
She enjoyed reading, singing, crocheting, and traveling. Her travels have included trips to Germany, China, Saudi Arabia, Italy, the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, with her favorite place being Paris. When asked if she wanted to take a trip, her response was “Sure, where are we going”? She was a member of the Red Hat Society and was an avid Gopher fan holding season tickets for the Women’s hockey and basketball teams. She enjoyed being First Lady of Rochester and, of course, traveling with her husband on many of his mayoral trips.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Vivian Nelson; brother, Bob, and granddogs, Sox and Riley.
She is survived by her husband, Ardell; two daughters, Leslie (Tim) Kennedy, and Jennifer Brede; son, Scott Brede; and six grandchildren, Catie, Caroline, Vinny, Madison, Jordyn, and Lauren. She is also survived by her brother, Norris (Sharon) Nelson of Apple Valley, CA.
The funeral service for Judy will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 3, 2018 at Bethel Lutheran Church with Rev. Norman Wahl officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ardell and Judy Brede University of Minnesota Marching Band Scholarship https://makingagift.umn.edu/give/fund.html?id=2778 or to the National Kidney Foundation.
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