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Judy D Mechura

Judy D Mechura

1942 – 2023

It is with deep sorrow and much love that the family of Judy D Mechura, 80, announce her passing in Mesa, AZ on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Judy was born on July, 17, 1942 in Eau Claire, WI, grew up in Chippewa Falls, WI, and had also lived in Minneapolis, MN, Hackensack, MN, and Mesa, AZ making many friends and touching lives in her quiet and genuinely kind ways. Judy attended Chippewa Falls High School and Wisconsin State University, Eau Claire. She was married almost 50 years before Bob’s passing in 2015. She had retired from Ah-Gwah-Ching State Nursing Home in Walker, MN where she was the Business Office Manager for many years. She was actively involved in Business and Professional Women (BPW) in both MN and AZ chapters and volunteered for, as well as helped to start multiple non-profit organizations. Judy loved to travel. Family road trips in the back seat as a child must have inspired her to venture out on her first solo cross-country road trip at the age of 22! Over the years, she traveled to Hawaii with BPW, Route 66 with Bob in their custom cruiser, and they took multiple anniversary trips around the Great Lakes. Most recently she went on a four-generation vacation to the Florida Keys – Judy, Laurie, Christena, and Valery. As a grandma, she always found fun and unusual places to visit and the Llama Festival became a family favorite around her birthday each year. Laurie and the grandkids insisted she needed to be in Utah to celebrate her birthday and attend the event!  Judy was a dedicated member of the Lutheran church in each community where she lived. Fun-fact: four of the five churches she belonged to were named “Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.” Baptized, confirmed, married, daughter baptized, and now memorial service – all at an Our Savior’s.

She will be lovingly remembered and is survived by her daughter Laurie J Birkhofer, three grandchildren Samuel L Birkhofer, Christena B Birkhofer, Tristan S Birkhofer, one great-grandchild Valery D Brown, sister Faye B (Russell) Christensen, sister-in-law Kathryn K Christenson, and nephews Kier L Christensen and Tyler K Christensen. She will also be dearly missed by her many lifelong BPW friends who were like family to her.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, “Bob” Robert D Mechura, parents Isabelle Christenson, Sigfred M Christenson, Frank C Buchanan, brother Ronald S Christenson, nephew Rolf S Christenson, and so very recently, niece Abigail F Christenson.

A Celebration of Judy’s Life will be held 10:30 AM on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 612 S Ellsworth Rd, Mesa, AZ 85208. She befriended and influenced so many people. Please join her family on this day to share your stories and honor her memory. Bright, springtime attire will encourage the celebratory mood.

Memorial Donations can be made in Judy’s name to organizations that she supported and was involved in for many years.

Family Safety Network, PO Box 1162, Walker, MN 56484 or www.familysafetynetwork.net

AZ BPW Foundation, PO Box 32596, Phoenix, AZ 85064 or www.arizonabpwfoundation.org  (if mailing a check, please use this form https://www.arizonabpwfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/DonationForm.pdf )

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Crismon Peaks Assisted Living for their care and compassion during her final days. Her daughter, Laurie, sends much gratitude to BambooHR for the flexibility to work remotely and help care for her mother over the last two years.

Strong – – Kind – – Giving

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1 Comment To "Judy D Mechura"

#1 Comment By Veronica Edwards On April 5, 2023 @ 9:34 pm

I am so sorry for the loss of Miss Judy .I had the pleasure of being her friend (caregiver with visiting Angels) for a time . So enjoyed our trips to the salon for her permanents and running out errands. Judy was such a pleasant happy lady to be around My prayers go out to your family during this time