Judith Bryla

Judith Barbara Veronica was born to Joe and Julia (nee Kurdziel) Witnik, growing up on Chicago’s West Side, attending St. Francis Assisi grammar school and graduating from Providence High School in 1959, proudly serving as her Senior Class’s Vice President. It was during this time that the infamous Ami Fiettes (loosely ‘girlfriends’ in French) was established, solidifying a group of deep friendships and which would endure Judie’s lifetime.

Judie’s children were born while she was in her 20s, and in 1970 the young family moved from the city to Arlington Heights, IL. Judie was a Brownie troop leader, a school volunteer and learned how to play tennis in a neighborhood where she formed further close friendships. Several years later, Judie and her kids moved to Elk Grove Village, IL, where Judie would reside for several decades, guiding her children from grade school through their college years, perfecting her tennis game, biking through the local forest preserve, volunteering at her church, and experimenting with a newer hobby known as country line dancing, which served as a foundation for Judie dancing her way in dance clubs throughout Chicagoland for many years to follow.

As an empty nester, an early retirement from Judie’s career as a medical and orthodontic office manager was followed by a long-awaited move to her cherished downtown Chicago. There Judie embraced the Lakefront, theater, festivals, even more lasting friendships, regular visits to the Alderman’s complaint office, winters in Florida with her daughter Jeannine and countless trips to visit her son Dave and daughter-in-law Kel and daughter Sue and son-in-law John and grandkids in various states of their residences.

In 2020, Judie moved to Waunakee, WI to live closer to her daughter Sue, where she spent the past five of her golden years at Home Again Assisted Living, bringing her signature spirited personality.

Judie was predeceased by her beloved son, Mark Anthony Bryla (1962-63), her parents Joe and Julia Witnik and several close friends and cousins.

Judie is survived by her sister, Barb Pudela of Elk Grove Village, IL, brother-in-law Len (Nancy) Bryla of Huntley, IL, daughter Jeannine of Chicago, son Dave (Kel) of Wilmette, IL and daughter Sue (John) of Waunakee, WI, as well as her treasured grandchildren, Max, Colee, Isabelle, Kora and Steven, her special Pudela great-nephew and -nieces, Ryan, Caileigh, Zoe and Gracie, in addition to dear cousins, nieces, nephews and Godchildren and notable friends too countless to name individually.

Judie was fiercely loyal to her family and friends, a dedicated mom and devoted Grandma/Grandmama, and cultivated her spirituality quietly and throughout her life. She was an avid reader and national and world travel enthusiast and loved to share those experiences with others. She worked hard, rarely missing even an hour of work and she also played equally as hard, rarely missing a bike ride, tennis match, dancing invitation or happy hour in any time zone. She was also Neil Diamond’s self-proclaimed biggest fan.

Judie will be remembered at an upcoming private tribute.

Judie’s family would like to thank the aforementioned Home Again team, especially her buddy Bobbie, as well as Agrace Hospice for their care of Judie. 

In honor of Judie’s life and memory, donations may be considered to the Alzheimer’s Association at: https://www.alz.org.

Winn Cress Funeral Home

608-849-4513