Mildred Ruth Hudec

Mildred Ruth (Murphy) Hudec, a much beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sibling, auntie, and cherished friend was born on October 4, 1934 in Reynolds, Nebraska. She grew up on the working family farm in Western, Nebraska which was homesteaded in 1920 by her grandfather. She was the fourth child born to Edward and Ethel Murphy, and Mildred (fondly known as Millie) had nine siblings which she would name off proudly in rapid fire format: Rosemary, Tom, Margaret, Alice, Jim, Kathryn, Eileen, Bill, and Anne. Millie, age 90, peacefully went to be with our Lord on June 18, 2025 surrounded by family in Yucaipa, CA.

Millie led a vibrant and adventure filled life. She married Dale Hudec on April 2, 1956 in Fairbury, Nebraska, and they moved to California shortly thereafter where they started their family which included Kimberly Hudec Figueredo (Michael), Douglas Hudec (Lucia), Daniel Hudec (Lisa), Steven Hudec (Marie), Kristi Hudec Cott, and Teresa Hudec Morad (Ebrahim).

Millie was passionate about education, and after her high school graduation in Fairbury, Nebraska she taught in a one-room schoolhouse. In California, Millie worked for the Yucaipa-Calimesa School District as a special education instructional aide for 22 years. Millie also worked as a bookkeeper for the family business, Hudco Heating & Air Conditioning. Millie volunteered at her children’s elementary school, Precious Blood Catholic School in Banning, CA. She also volunteered at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) catechist, taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) to children, was a member of Catholic Daughters and helped in the church office. Additionally, Millie volunteered at the Yucaipa Branch Library for several years. Wherever help was needed, Millie was there.

Millie enjoyed several hobbies and had a passion for quilting and teaching interested family members how to quilt as well. Millie lovingly quilted a baby quilt for each grandchild when they were born, for each grandchild when they married or became an adult, and for each of her children when they turned 50! These individualized quilts are cherished treasures that remind us of her deep love for family. Some special memories that capture the essence of Millie are her love of the mountains and being outdoors. She loved gardening and working in her vegetable garden, canning and teaching her children how to can and make fruit jams with her, praying on her peaceful garden bench surrounded by flowers, camping in the early years which later turned to staying at her cabin in the mountains. She once chased a bear out of the cabin after it entered through a kitchen window! Millie was a strong and fearless woman with courage and common sense, she could handle everything put in her way.

Her life was a testament to her deep belief in God and her devotion to her family. She taught her family to pray through the storms and praise through the blessings. Millie’s legacy of faith, kindness, and resilience will continue to guide her family each and every day.

Millie is pre-deceased by her husband of 60 years, Dale Hudec, her daughter Teresa Hudec Morad and one grandchild, Alwin Cott. Millie also joins her parents Edward and Ethel and siblings Rosemary, Jim, and Eileen in heaven, as well as other loving family members who are gone but not forgotten.

Millie is survived by her children Kimberly (Mike), Douglas (Lucia), Daniel (Lisa), Steven (Marie) and Kristi, her 17 grandchildren Tiffani (Mike), Renee (Ronan), Erika (Kip), Philip (Amy), Joel (Brittany), Justin (Elizabeth), Kevin, Robert (Kimberly), Andrew (Heather), Amanda (Addison), Ryan (Maddie), Kassie (Michael), Jonnie (Chris), Lauren, Jenna (fiancé Fernando), Adam, and Layla, and her 15 great-grandchildren Madalynn, Joseph, Nora, Eimear, Elin, Myra, Malcolm, Mirren, Bren, James, Elias, Sylus, Amelia, Jackson, and Mason. What a beautiful legacy Millie has left behind which also includes her big family of numerous siblings, nieces, nephews, and in-laws, as well as her adopted Brazilian family through AFS.

We all will fondly remember her stories of the chores she was responsible for as a child growing up on the Murphy family farm and her adventures of traveling and seeing the world with her husband Dale. Her huge smile will always remind us of her love of having fun, laughing at a good joke, or simply enjoying life.

Funeral services to be held at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in Yucaipa, CA are as follows:

July 15: Remembrance Rosary at 6:00 PM

July 16: Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM followed by Interment at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Calimesa, CA.

~Please join us for a Celebration of Life reception that will follow the Interment at 1:00 pm

at the Parish Center located next to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church. ~

In lieu of flowers, please Donate to the Mildred Hudec fund at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church.