Judith Eleanor Tilley Rasmussen

Judith Eleanor Rasmussen, 64, went home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Saturday, January 30, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer. Judith was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 30, 1951 to the late Frank and Muriel Tilley. In 1952, Judith and her family moved to Wyckoff, New Jersey which was home for many years. Judith and her family were longtime members of Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Hawthorne Gospel was a huge part of Judith’s life where she was active in church, Sunday School, Pioneer Girls (awarded Pioneer Girl of the year one year at the annual Pal-Gal Banquet) and Youth Group and made many lifelong friends. She graduated from Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey in 1969 and Houghton College in Houghton, New York in 1973. During her time at Houghton, she was able to spend a year in Spain and fell in love with the country and people and also attended Urbana – the student missions conference held in Urbana, Illinois, where she felt God call her to the mission field. After graduation, Judith taught near her hometown until she knew God was calling her to go become a missionary and go abroad, continuing her teaching career in Madrid. She spent over a decade in Madrid, then time in the Basque Country of northern Spain, Germany, on to Honduras and then back to Madrid. In September of 1986, missionary friends invited Judith over for dinner where she met a handsome, young Canadian who was travelling throughout Spain, selling Christian books with another missionary. Judith saw this ‘friend of a friend’ at church and asked him about a particular book - which was the start of a new chapter of Judith’s life. Roger Rasmussen traveled throughout Spain for several months, staying in touch with Judith and their relationship grew. She was a great encourager and always knew the exact words that Roger needed to hear. By January of 1987, they were engaged (of course after Roger made a long distance call from Spain to New Jersey to ask permission to marry the woman he loved). Judith returned home on furlough in the spring, and in May, Judith and her parents picked Roger up at JFK airport so they could finally meet. Judith and Roger were married on August 8, 1987 at Hawthorne Gospel Church. They lived in Illinois for a time while Roger attended Wheaton College, then back to New Jersey where Rachel Joy was born on October 2, 1989. Another move to Charlotte, North Carolina and they were once again blessed with the birth of Sarah Ann on January 19, 1991. Shortly after their family was complete, Judith, Roger and the girls moved to the Baja Peninsula in Mexico where they spent two years church planting. Eventually, they moved back to Madrid for five years as a full time missionary family. Always the teacher, Judith impacted so many lives in Spain. They were able to travel extensively, helping and caring for others as a family which molded both of the girls into the beautiful, caring, tender-hearted young women they are today. Everyone that met Judith loved her, her tender sweet spirit was ever present. Eventually, Judith and her family returned to the states and settled in Charlotte to be close to her parents and other family. Judith continued her career as a teacher, teaching Spanish in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system and most recently at Sun Valley High School in Monroe, North Carolina. Always the picture of health, it was a totally unexpected to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Judith remained positive throughout her illness, never complaining and fully accepting what lay ahead. We were blessed that she never suffered and on Saturday, January 30, Judith peacefully left us and opened her eyes to see her parents, grandparents and other loved ones that had already moved to their heavenly home, but most important, she opened her eyes to see Jesus. We miss her more than words can ever say, but know that we will see her again.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to

Church at Charlotte - Cuba Ministry

2500 Carmel Road

Charlotte, North Carolina 28226

Judith is survived by her devoted and adoring husband, Roger; beautiful, sweet spirited daughters, Rachel and Sarah; older sister, Sharon Natale and her husband Rich; her only brother, Donald Tilley and his wife Ming; baby sister, Arlene Brokaw and her husband Keith; nephews, Brian Tilley, Kevin Natale, Mike Natale, Craig Brokaw and Jeff Brokaw; nieces, Melissa Curlin and Susan Natale; nine great-nieces and nephews, several cousins and countless dear friends.