Judith E. Hodes

Judith Elaine (Schnacke) Hodes passed away peacefully on December 22, 2020. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 am on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road in Leawood, KS, with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Please note that masks and social distancing will be required for those attending. The Mass will also be livestreamed at cureofars.com/funeral.

Judy’s beautiful smile and love of engaging with every person she met made the world a nicer place. Her enthusiastic, positive spirit will be missed dearly.

Judy was born on August 20, 1959 to Austin and Barbara Schnacke in Topeka, KS. She lived almost her entire life in Overland Park, KS where she attended, Katherine Carpenter Elementary (where she was Student Council President), Hillcrest Junior High (drill team, school record in the long jump) and Shawnee Mission West High School where she was active in forensics, Student Council, tennis and was a state champion long jumper for the track team.

Judy moved on to Kansas State University where she made lifelong friends as a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She graduated with a degree in radio and television communications in 1981.

After college she pursued her love of sports and moved to Beaumont, TX working for the Beaumont Golden Gators AA baseball team as Group Sales Director and Advertising Sales and later for the Lamar University athletic department as Promotions Director while also finding time to volunteer as a youth soccer coach.

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis prompted her to return to Overland Park where she continued to utilize her ability to immediately connect with people. In her work for Rural Route Tours as Team Operations Coordinator, The Furst Group as an executive recruiter and ultimately for Unell Associates/Twins Magazine as an account coordinator and marketing director, she succeeded professionally and, of course, in making more lifelong friends. In addition to work, she was active in the Junior League of KCMO and as the volunteer coordinator for the ALS Society’s Music Marketplace.

In 1987 she met Phil Hodes, who would be her partner, supporter and husband to her last breath.

Although the progression of Judy’s MS caused her to leave employment, she remained active in many organizations, including Cure of Ars Catholic Church; Chapter IC of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, of which she was a 40-year member; the MS Achievement Center; the Overland Park Historical Society; and Bible study with the Presbyterian Women’s group at Village Church.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her devoted husband Phil Hodes, her cherished brother Jerry Schnacke, brothers-in-law Dan (Yoshimi), Steve (Brenda) and Ken (Dawn) Hodes, nieces Lia Schnacke, Liz Hodes and Taylor Hodes, and nephews Spencer, Kevin (Brooke), William, and Nick Hodes. She also leaves behind her beloved golden retriever Navi.

Judy received great assistance in her 35-year battle with MS by the weekly support provided by the MS Achievement Center and would smile down from heaven for contributions made to the Friends of the MS Achievement Center at 3599 Rainbow Blvd MS 3049, Kansas City, KS 66160 or http://www.msachievementcenter.org.