Judith Ann Choleva

Judith Ann Choleva, 83, passed peacefully at her home in Lordstown, Ohio on Monday, March 11, 2024.

She was born on February 25, 1941 in Altoona, Pennsylvania and was the daughter of Arthur and Alberta Wills.  Judy was the oldest of three children; survived by sister, Leah Rae Grove, of Loretto, Pennsylvania and preceded in death by her brother, Bernard Wills of Amsbry, Pennsylvania.

Judy possessed a kind and considerate heart and knew at a young age that she wanted to become a registered nurse.  This lifelong dream was realized, in 1962, when she graduated from The Philipsburg State General Hospital School of Nursing.

Upon graduation, she held various positions at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, where she cared for movie stars whose names she never revealed; as well as University and Trumbull Memorial Hospitals in Ohio.  In the latter part of her career, she focused on caring for the elderly at nursing homes and assisted living facilities close to her home.

After meeting the love of her life, Edward R. Choleva, who passed away in 2018, she was able to fulfill two more life ambitions by becoming a loving wife and nurturing mother to their two daughters, Deborah Prenatt (Bud) of Columbus, Ohio, and Patricia Choleva of Warren.

In her spare time, Judy loved spending time outdoors tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, along with taking long bike rides, reading the newspaper, books, and poetry of Robert Frost.  She enjoyed watching shows that celebrated nature, such as All Creatures Great and Small, while snacking on anything peanut butter flavored.  The music of Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and 91.5 WKHR (Cleveland) was in the background of most of her days.  

She lived her life in service to others and left her daughters with instructions for living a good life that are worth sharing…

Always do good for others,

Heal your differences,

Always make time to enjoy nature,

Never give up,

Always say Please and Thank You,

Be kind and love each other.

A private graveside service will be held for immediate family where she will be laid to rest next to her husband at St. Michael’s cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Judy’s honor, to Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation (www.crhcf.org).  The kindness and compassion of all the hospice caregivers was truly a blessing to our family.

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