Judith Lee Riley

Judith "Judy" Riley, 87, passed away on September 7, 2026, in Mokena, Illinois, surrounded by the family she spent a lifetime loving, caring for, organizing, feeding, and, when necessary, keeping everyone in line.

Judy was the proud matriarch of her family. She was a wife, a mother, a gardener, a quilter, a crocheter, a reader, a choir singer, and a woman who firmly believed that if something needed to be done, there was really no reason she couldn't figure out how to do it herself.

She was a take-charge kind of woman, and most things Judy decided to tackle somehow got accomplished.

Family was the center of her world. Judy could host Christmas for 50 people and somehow make it happen, along with countless other holidays and family gatherings over the years. Her home was a gathering place, and she understood that some of the best family memories are made when everyone is together, there is too much food, and there probably aren't enough chairs.

But of all the titles Judy carried throughout her life, one of her favorites came later when she became "Gramwich" to Jamie and Jack.

Being their Gramwich brought Judy tremendous joy. She loved her trips to Disney World with her grandchildren and the memories they made together. She also enjoyed traveling farther from home, including traveling the world with friends and family.

When Judy wasn't taking care of everyone else, she could usually find something to keep herself busy. She loved working in her garden, quilting and crocheting, settling in with a good book, or two, and singing in her church choir.

And then there was Jeopardy.

Judy frequently played right along from her chair and, more often than not, was perfectly capable of beating the people actually standing behind the podiums.

That was Judy. Smart, capable, determined, involved, and always interested in the world around her.

She also believed that we have a responsibility to look beyond ourselves. Throughout her life, Judy sought out ways to help those less fortunate, quietly putting her time and talents where they could make a difference.

Judy is survived by her children, Gregory Riley, Michael (Leah) Riley, and Amy Riley (Michael Shinabargar); and her beloved grandchildren, Jamie and Jack Riley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Riley; her daughter, Kathy Riley-Jones; and her parents, Benjamin and Nellie Janesy.

Eighty-seven years gives a person a lot of time to leave their mark, and Judy sure did.

She leaves behind quilts and gardens, holidays and traditions, trips and stories, a family that knew exactly who its matriarch was, and two grandchildren who will forever know her by a name that belonged only to them, Gramwich.

Visitation for Judy will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, beginning at 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Vandenberg Funeral Home in Mokena 19604 S. Wolf Road Mokena, IL 60448

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Vandenberg Funeral Home in Mokena 19604 S. Wolf Road Mokena, IL 60448

Memorial donations may be made in Judy's name to JDRF, supporting those living with type 1 diabetes and the continued search for better treatments and a cure.