The Life of Judith Bogdanoff
BOGDANOFF
Judith “Judy”, 69, of Philadelphia, PA died Saturday, June 12, 2021, after a long illness. Judy was a teacher’s assistant at Jenkintown Elementary School. She was dearly loved and made a tremendous contribution to the recovery world. She was very courageous and an inspiration to all. She will be profoundly missed. She is predeceased by her parents, Milton and Bernice (nee Banks) and survived by her life partner, Jay Trago; sister, Susie Housman; brother in-law, Kenny; nephew, Jonathan Housman (Sandy Karalekas); niece, Samantha Housman (Nicola Marsh); great niece Kyleigh; great nephews: Lucas, Elliot and Corey; and many many friends. Visitation at 11:30 am and Funeral Service at 12:30 pm, Monday, June 14th, at West Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Inc., 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. You can also join us by Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84813935251?pwd=RUJwSnJFSEdib3RDbW1iY3BBWUV4dz09
Meeting ID: 848 1393 5251
Passcode: judy
Interment immediately following at Shalom Memorial Park in Huntingdon Valley. Memorial contributions may be made in Judy’s name to The Bridge Way School, the first sober high school in Pennsylvania. 7360 Jackson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19136. https://thebridgewayschool.org/donate/
Per the CDC Guidelines, if vaccinated, all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, if not vaccinated, please wear a mask.
Shiva will be held, Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm at Pat Quigley’s home:
419 E. Allen’s Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Filter Judith Bogdanoff's Timeline by the following Memory Categories
2021.06.13
Blessed to have known Judty
I met Judy late in her life. I find myself blessed to have known her. She was such a beautiful light and a beautiful soul. May she rest in peace and love.
2021.06.14
My Best Friend
My memories of Judy began when I met her at my first apartment at the Ridge Carlton in The summer of 1978. I was a newlywed at at the young age of 22 and Judy was a single woman of 24. I knew of her but never met her. Our moms wanted us to be friends but back then that was a reason not to be friends! Judy was a little, young woman with lots of energy and spunk! I tended to stay away from little women because of how it made me feel about my own body. But that tendency did not last and Judy became one of my closest friend to this day. She was a vibrant and vital force who you could not keep from loving. Despite her smoking habit, the first of her vices to conquer, she was my oasis in an early rocky marriage. I would run down to her every time my husband and I would have a fight. After I went on to have children it was more difficult to stay connected so I had her take care of them while I went to work. Judy loved children so much and that to me was the biggest tragedy in her life. She was meant to be a mom. She spoke of my children and her neice & nephew as if they were by her own-with deep pride and love. As the years passed, Judy encountered many personal challenges which she fought with a vengeance. She didn't give in to her personal difficulties. She would seek out support from others who struggled with similar demons. It was curative and she mentored many who were suffering. That was her biggest gift to the world.
One memory will be that even when Judy was at her sickest she never stopped caring about how she looked. I would spend the final minutes before going home picking out her outfit for the next day down to her shoes and jewelry. Everything had to match. I didn't understand why she cared when her body was failing her terribly. But I came to understand that if she felt put together then life would be more bearable so I went along with it.
While Judy's life sounded tragic at times, her one reward was a man she met through her struggles, Jay. Jay was and is a true gem. He cared for her with patience and love at her lowest points up until the very end. I never met a man as selfless as Jay. I only hope he can go on to find peace in his heart and never feel alone. We will always be there for him.