Judith Ellen Barenie, lifelong resident of Griffith, Indiana, passed away on Friday March 10, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Judy cherished all her survivors, who include her mother, Rita Barenie of Griffith; brothers Merv (Linda) of Crown Point, John of Griffith, Mark (Angela) of Crown Point, and Paul (Jennifer) of Schererville; sisters Carolyn (Lewis) Belcher of Griffith, Ellen (Jay) Wolters of Lowell, Mary (Bob) Stratton of Westfield, IN., Julie (Don) Peterson of St. John, and Anne (late Tom) Bukowski of Griffith; 26 nieces and nephews, and 14 grandnieces and nephews. Judy was preceded in death by her father Mervyn G. Barenie. Until her retirement, Judy was a journeyman electrician at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant. After graduating from Griffith High School in 1974, she earned a degree in History from Purdue University Calumet and added electrical studies at Prairie State College.
Judy’s contributions affected many. A lifelong parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church in Griffith, where she was the longtime Chairperson of the Kid’s Fun Fair at St. Mary’s Western Days Festival. She was an award-winning pumpkin grower, and a major influence on the family’s annual Halloween Pumpkin Display. Her passions included annual fishing trips to the North Woods and Notre Dame.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday March 15, 2023, at 10:00am DIRECTLY at St. Mary Catholic Church located at 525 N. Broad St. in Griffith with Fr. Keith Virus celebrating. Burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville. Friends may meet with the family on Tuesday March 14, 2023, from 2-8:00 pm at White Funeral Home located at 921 W. Glen Park Ave (45th Ave) in Griffith. There will be an afternoon wake service at 3:00pm on Tuesday.
For information, please call White Funeral Home at (219) 924-4100 or visit us at www.whitefuneralhomeofgriffith.com.
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