Judith Duggins Ryerse, 76, of Fredericksburg, VA passed away at home after years of living with Alzheimer’s Disease on July 2, 2019. A member of the Secular Franciscan Order, she is remembered as a devoted servant of God and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Fred Ryerse, Jr, their children and spouses, Fred Ryerse, III, John Ryerse, Mathew Ryerse, Jennifer Brister, and Teresa Overton, 16 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, her mother, Mary Grein, and her brother, James Duggins, Jr. She is pre-deceased by her father, James Duggins, Sr. and brother, Wayne Duggins.
Judi was born on September 28, 1942 in Paoli, IN. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1960 where she met her husband on a blind date. They were married in January the very next year.
Always active in the life of the church, Judi taught religious education for a decade before obtaining a Minister of Religious Education certificate from Trinity College in 1985. She went on to serve as the Director of Religious Education for sixteen years in four different Catholic parishes.
Judi retired in 2001 and enjoyed spending time with family and numerous hobbies including travel, needlework, birding, playing Scrabble, and reading. An accomplished seamstress, she passed on her skill through summer Sewing Camps for her grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 7th from 2-4pm at Mountcastle Turch Life Celebration Home at 4143 Dale Blvd, Dale City, VA. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Monday, July 8th at 11am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 18825 Fuller Heights Rd. Triangle, VA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fredericksburg chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/grva/donate
