Judy Kehoe Etzel died peacefully on January 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after bravely living with Alzheimer’s for over 10 years. Judy was born on August 2, 1940, in Portland to John and Margaret Kehoe. Her brother Brent was born two years later. They grew up in Southwest Portland in a Cape Cod style home built by their father where Judy attended St. Clare’s Catholic School. Her childhood was filled with visits to Mt. Angel, Stayton & St. Paul to see family, berry and bean picking, softball, swimming at Sellwood Park, and camping trips to Breitenbush.
Judy attended St. Mary’s Academy and then the University of Portland School of Nursing. It was during her time at UP that Judy met her future husband, Joe Etzel. She asked Joe to a Valentine’s dance and the rest is history. They married June 2, 1962 - a week after she graduated. By then, Joe was coaching and teaching at Central Catholic High School and that was the start of being a coach’s wife! Judy held several positions over her long nursing career. Public Health, Pediatrics at Bess Kaiser, Home Health and a clinic nurse for a medical practice. She did all of this while raising her kids and eventually retired in her early 60’s.
Joe & Judy raised four children - Jim, Kathy, Susan, and Tom. Judy was a natural at being a Mom and was always involved in her kids’ schools, sports, and activities. The Etzel family spent a lot of time at their “second home”, the University of Portland, where Joe was the Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach. Judy seemed to juggle all of this with ease - as a family, they helped at baseball games (concession, tickets, scoring, etc.) and attended most basketball games. Judy became a fixture on the Bluff, attending Pilot games with Joe well after his retirement - she may have set a UP Athletics attendance record!
Judy loved to work with her hands - she was an avid gardener, enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, flower arranging and crafting. She loved trips to the nursery, enjoyed shopping, walking and yoga. She kept an immaculate house, always made home-cooked meals, and
everyone looked forward to her cookies and pies! She was the ultimate caregiver, caring for her immediate family, her aging parents & in-laws and volunteering in the community. Joe & Judy have belonged to St. Pius X parish for over 50 years and Judy was a member of the Women’s Bible Study where she found comfort & fellowship.
Joe & Judy loved to visit Arizona or Palm Springs in the early Spring & Central Oregon every summer. Judy loved riding next to Joe in their convertible Mustang and listening to a good country song. They moved to their home on the golf course in Claremont several years ago and continued to enjoy gardening and relaxing on their patio.
Judy loved being a grandma - she savored every minute she spent with Matthew, Jack & Connor. She rarely missed a game they played from T-ball through high school, always their biggest fan! Judy will be missed dearly, her smile lit up a room, even until her last days.
Judy is survived by her husband Joe, children Jim (Carmen), Kathy (Mike) Kollas, Susan Etzel and Tom Etzel, grandsons, Matthew Kollas, Connor Kollas, Jack Bauccio, and her brother Brent (Pat) Kehoe.
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