Judith Ann Rise

Judi was born on June 14, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Henry and Eva Hickman. She spent most of her life in Royal Oak, where she graduated from Kimball High School followed later by all three of her kids. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and later a master’s degree in Social Work from Wayne State University.

Helping others was the thread that ran through Judi’s life and career. She worked in a variety of roles, including infant mental health, international adoption, hospice care, and, for the final 20 years of her career, as a family court mediator for Oakland County. She approached each role with compassion, wisdom, and a deep belief in the importance of supporting others through life’s most difficult moments.

In 1970, she married Roger Trombley, and together they welcomed three children. They later divorced in 2006. In 2008, Judi married Dr. Noel Rise. Together they enjoyed retirement, spending their winters in Arizona until Noel’s passing in 2020.

Judi was endlessly curious and loved to learn. She often joked that she was a “compendium of useless knowledge,” but anyone who knew her appreciated the endless supply of facts, stories, and trivia she had gathered over a lifetime of reading. She also had a quick and witty sense of humor that could catch you off guard and leave you laughing long after the conversation had ended. Her children remember family road trips with Judi reading aloud from the front seat and arriving at every destination already knowing its history, landmarks, and hidden gems.

She also loved to travel and was determined to visit all 50 states, finally reaching that goal in 2023 with a trip to Hawaii. Whether she was exploring somewhere new or wandering through a neighborhood garage sale or thrift store, Judi delighted in the hunt. She had an uncanny ability to find the perfect little treasure for someone she loved and found great joy in giving thoughtful gifts.

Kindness came naturally to Judi. She was always quick to send an encouraging note, share a small gift that reminded her of someone, or quietly support causes that were important to her. Her strong faith in God was what made her believe that even small acts of generosity could make a lasting difference.

Judi is survived by her children, Jenifer Trombley, Benjamin Trombley, and Jordon (Trombley) Geiger, and grandchildren, Henry Geiger, Ellis Geiger, Theodore Geiger, Adam Trombley, and Selah Trombley.

Visitation will be held at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester, Michigan, on August 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., immediately followed by a funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to honor Judi’s memory consider making a donation to Grace’s Table (https://www.gracestable.com/donate), a cause she faithfully supported for many years.

Judith's service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. To view the live stream, please click the button label "Join Livestream" below in the services tab.