Judith Kay Swain

Judith Kay (Allinger) Swain, 66, passed away April 4, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a year-long struggle with cancer. She was born on April 7, 1959, in South Bend, Indiana, and was a graduate of Clay High School.

Judy’s early years were filled with family and friends, traveling, camping, boating, ice skating, and riding bikes, plus summer badminton battles under the streetlights. The youngest of three daughters, Judy learned early on the value of her cherubic, “Who, me?” look when facing parental scrutiny or the nuns at Christ the King Grade School. She also didn’t believe her older sisters when they offered to trade their “big fat nickels” for her “skinny little dimes”, nor any of the other fabrications they told her, a lesson that served her well throughout life.

In 1983, Judy married Kenneth Swain in South Bend. With Ken’s job they spent the next 10 years living in various cities in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, before settling back in South Bend in 1993. After two particularly hard Midwest winters, they had enough of that and in 2004 they joined her sister Kathy and lifelong friends Lisa and Patti in Las Vegas.

In January 2005, Judy joined Opportunity Village, a non-profit organization serving people in Southern Nevada with intellectual disabilities. She was the Assistant Director of Employment Training Programs. Over the course of 21 years, Judy developed and promoted numerous well received programs that significantly expanded employment opportunities for OV clients. She was honored to serve as a member of the Rehabilitation Division of the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council.

Always at home outdoors, Judy loved camping and hiking and traveling to as many National and State parks as possible. But she missed Lake Michigan, so each summer a sojourn was made to the Lake so she could bask on the beaches.

Judy is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Kenneth Swain; sisters Susan Allinger and Kathy Allinger; niece Elisabeth Jaworski (Carlos), nephews Drew Jaworski (Kimberly), and Ben Pomerantz; grandniece Aurora Jaworski and grandnephew Dean Jaworski; stepdaughter Cheryl Kepner and Cheryl’s sons Brandon and Austin Kepner; CKS friends since 1st grade Janet, Karen, Polly, and Theresa. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Barbara Allinger.

Judy was blessed with friends and family who helped her face the relentless cycles of chemotherapy, tests, doctors, and hospital visits. She was especially grateful for the tireless dedication, help, and love of her sister Kathy, who took care of her in ways only a sister can – with equal doses of quiet encouragement and drill sergeant expletives.

In keeping with Judy’s wishes, there will be no funeral or flowers. Only good memories and heartfelt toasts are allowed. A gathering will be held on April 23, 2026, from 5:00 – 6:30 at Palm Funeral Home, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. A service will be held in South Bend in late May 2026. Please consider donating in Judy’s memory to Super Summer Theatre or Potawatomi Zoo.