Judith Ann Edberg

Judith (Judy) Ann Edberg passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at The Denver Hospice, surrounded by family. She was 82 years old. Judy was born April 19, 1943, at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. She loved Aurora, and it was her home for over 70 years.

Judy successfully fought stage IV breast cancer in 2015 and was cancer-free for 10 years, but a sudden decline in her health led to the discovery that the cancer had returned. Upon hearing the news, she bravely hoped to explore treatment options, but sadly, it was too advanced to fight it.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Lillian Maxwell, as well as her brother Tom Maxwell and sister Jan Maxwell. She is survived by her devoted husband, Dan Edberg; sisters, Donna Johnson and Cherri Wall; daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa Edberg Thompson and Gordon Thompson, Teri Edberg Thompson and Aaron Beale, Lorie Edberg Fairchild and Don Fairchild; and her beloved grandchildren, Tyler Fairchild and Josh Fairchild.

Judy was a caretaker at heart. Helping others, especially children, was a constant thread in her 40-year career as a nurse. Judy wanted to be a nurse from a young age, and she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (1965) and Master of Science degree in Pediatric Nursing (1978), both from the University of Colorado. After working in pediatric psychiatric hospitals, she served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Kaiser Permanente for 12 years, traveling throughout the Denver metro area and beyond to conduct home visits and provide perinatal home care to families. She devoted the latter part of her career to the Aurora Public Schools (APS) system, first serving as a school nurse for 15 years, then developing and spearheading a groundbreaking Medicaid Services Program for 7 years, which brought vital funding to underserved K-12 APS students. In 2004, she received an APS Employee Recognition Award, and, in 2008, the Judy Edberg Kids Clinic opened at Crawford Elementary School. She also served as an elected member of the APS School Board for four years, starting in 2005.

Despite her impressive career, Judy’s most cherished roles were as wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Judy was married to her college sweetheart, Dan, for 59 very happy years. She often told stories of their meeting and early romance at CU. One of her favorites was the night they sang “Shall We Dance?” to each other while dancing around her dormitory courtyard and finished to unexpected applause from her dormmates. At CU Judy and Dan also met their lifelong friends, four couples who have called themselves “The Group” for over 60 years.

Judy loved being a mom to her three daughters, Lisa, Lorie, and Teri, and always went above and beyond to create happy memories, from making custom birthday cakes to sewing elaborate Halloween costumes as well as learning to like camping, just so her daughters would develop a love of nature.

Perhaps even more than being a mom, she treasured being a grandmother to her two grandsons. Although Judy thoroughly enjoyed her work at APS, she happily scheduled her retirement in 2005 to coincide with the birth of her first grandchild, so she could be a full-time grandmother. While her daughter Lorie and son-in-law Don were busy as public elementary school teachers, Judy helped raise their sons, Tyler and Josh, providing full-time childcare throughout their elementary and middle-school years.

Judy adored music, particularly Broadway musicals. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, a love that she got from her father and passed onto her daughters. As her daughters sang to her while she was in hospice care, Judy sang along, even singing the day before she passed.

Judy loved her family and friends fiercely, nurtured endlessly, cared for others deeply, and laughed fully with an infectious smile that would light up any room. We will aspire to carry on her strength, sense of humor, selflessness, and compassion in memory of the indelible mark she left on all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming months.

For those wishing to honor Judy’s remarkable life with a gift, we encourage you to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or The Denver Hospice in her name.