Judith L. Jolly

Judith L. “Judy” Jolly, age 85, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Grand Victorian Senior Living and Care Community in Rockford, IL. She was born March 24, 1940, in Belvidere, IL the daughter of Harold A. and Mildred L. (Simerl) Washburn. Judy graduated as valedictorian from Stillman Valley High School in 1958. She married William “Bill” Jolly on August 29, 1958, in Davis Junction, IL. After her children started school, she went back to school herself and got her teaching degree. She first attended Rock Valley Community College, then obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. Judy taught for 30 years at Highland Elementary School for the Stillman Valley School District (now Meridian CUSD 223). She loved to teach children to read, so after her retirement she became a reading tutor for 10 years at Rockford Public Schools. Judy taught Sunday School at Congregation Christian Church and was a longtime member of Valley Evangelical Covenant Church of Stillman Valley where she served on several boards. She was a member of the Association of American University Women, Illinois Education Association, National Education Association, Ogle County Retired Teachers Association and Monroe Center Historical Society. She was predeceased by her husband Bill, her parents Harold and Mildred Washburn, and her brother Glee (age 11). She is survived by her son Chris (Nancy) Jolly of Ormond Beach, FL; her daughter Jill (Bill) Huber of Stillman Valley, IL; her sister Linda (Warren) Dutton of Oregon, IL; her grandchildren Hannah (Dan) Meyers of Lake Bluff, IL; Mitchell (Tricia) Detig of North Barrington, IL; Benjamin (Cassie) Detig of Janesville, WI; and Catherine Jolly (Kaleigh Henry) of Boulder, CO; step grandchildren Tara Yanes of Harmon, IL, and Derek (Kelly) Huber of Buffalo Grove, IL; great grandchildren Aiden Detig, Jocelyn Detig, Cooper Detig, Beau Detig, Payton (Tyler) Hammer, Jace Yanes, Harrison Huber, and Jorie (Zach) Pageloff; great great grandchildren Rory Hammer, Fynn Hammer, Thea Pageloff and Revan Pageloff; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 4-7 PM at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 136 W. Roosevelt Road in Stillman Valley, IL. A funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Valley Evangelical Covenant Church, 103 S. Maple Street in Stillman Valley, IL with Pastors Lisa and Bill Orris Co-officiating. Visitation will also be held at the church prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM. The family would like to thank the staff at Grand Victorian Senior Living and Northern Illinois Hospice for their special care of Judy. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is established In Judy’s name for Valley Evangelical Covenant Church, Valley Covenant Preschool, Northern Illinois Hospice, and Meridian Education Foundation.