Eileen "Judy" J Riccillo

Born on January 17, 1937, in Maspeth, Queens, NY to Douglas and Eileen (Tierney) Callahan, Judy treasured her childhood and her exceptional parents. Judy met her dashing husband John while still in high school and graduated from St. Joseph’s College for Women in NY in 3-1/2 years because she just couldn’t wait to get married! She worked briefly as a teacher before devoting her full-time attention to raising her six children (five born within six years!): Judy (spouse Roger), John, Maureen (Bryan), Eileen (Mike), Patricia (Tim), and Suzanne (Rob). Later, she completed her master’s degree in education at Elmira College in NY and taught at Scenic Elementary in Grand Junction for a number of years.

She lost her husband and love of her life to cancer when she was only 54 and he was 56. For the next 34 years she led her large and boisterous family, that only continued to grow.

She travelled to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Bahamas, and all over the United States. She was a long-time member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She lived nearly 45 years in her beloved Grand Junction home. The family is thankful for the caretakers who helped Judy as her health failed. Judy frequently expressed that she had the “best family in the world”.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and CMU vice president emeritus John A. Riccillo Jr., and beloved grandsons Joseph Gartner and Johnny Riccillo. She is survived by her six children, 18 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren; sisters Kathy Callahan and Christine Callahan, brother John Callahan, and many cherished, long-time friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 6-8 pm at Dignity Memorial (Callahan-Edfast Mortuary), GJ. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 30 at 11 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, GJ. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Camp Okizu, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families (okizu.org), a cause that was dear to Judy’s heart.