Judith "Judy" Mae Schnell Ford's Obituary
Judith “Judy” Mae Schnell Ford passed away peacefully in her home with her family by her side on June 10, 2024 in Covington, Louisiana at the age of 85. She was the definition of brave upon learning of her recent diagnosis of late bile duct cancer. Undeniably, her focus on health and exercise combined with seeing the bright side of any situation allowed her to live a long active life up until the month until her passing. This was an absolute blessing.
She is survived by their two children, Christine Ford Mediamolle, and her husband, Wayne L. “Lee”, and Thomas Christopher “TC” and his wife, Mikaela. She is survived by her eight adoring grandchildren, Tripp, Luke, Elise and Lauren Mediamolle as well as Thomas, Christopher, Oscar and Libby Ford. She is also survived by her sister Dianne Baumhower and her three children Lisa and Jeff Baumhower and Leslie Sparks.
Judy was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Thompson H. “Tom” Ford. She is the daughter of the late Claryene Mae Fischer and Robert Edward Schnell. She was predeceased by her sister, Meredith “Susie” Potts and her brother Terrance Schnell.
She was born in Toledo, Ohio on June 1st, 1939. Her positivity on life was her trademark, always finding the silver lining in each day. She was the person you should run into if you needed a pep-talk, and her words of wisdom is what many loved most about her. Looking forward to something with anticipation, little or big, kept her excited for the days to come. Her mind was set to the mode of curiosity…wondering and reading to learn more and would be quick to say, just google it! Her love for art was evident even as a young girl. She spent countless hours immersing herself in the Toledo Museum of Art taking art classes. She loved nature and viewed it as a form of art. Taking in the beauty of each day and being absorbed in nature gave her such happiness. She loved her friends both old and new – all were cherished by her. Judy’s middle name could have been kind. Kindness was important to her, and she worked hard at showing kindness even in the hardest of situations. She was adventurous. She was always up for a trip, or even a last-minute cruise to Alaska with a sorority sister where she did a cold plunge at age 82. Her independence was fierce. She wanted to do things on her own terms, in her own way. She always had a plan even when things physically got hard for her. Her life was full, and it was beautiful! God gave her an almost superhuman drive to be independent, and she used her gift up until the end of her life.
In 1961 she graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she received a BS in Education with independent study in Psychology and Art History. She was a very proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority where she made many lifelong friends. She heard from many of them on her 85th birthday. She was a four-year letterman on the Northwestern University Swimming and Diving team in addition to a synchronized swimmer in the Dolphin Show. In her words, “Northwestern exposed me to experiences that challenged me, made me eager to learn, be curious and creative”. After graduating she taught in Glenview, Illinois traveling from school-to-school teaching art to children pre-kindergarten to 8th grade in the Grenville School District.
Judy and Tom were introduced by Tom’s grandmother and two of Judy’s sorority sister’s grandmothers. After four years of courtship, they were married on March 12th, 1966, in Toledo, Ohio. As avid skiers they skied the Swiss Alps in Zermatt, Switzerland for their honeymoon. They returned to live in Evanston, Illinois on the shore of Lake Michigan in a coach house – a forever favorite place.
In 1968 Tom was transferred with Hobart Corporation to New Orleans, Louisiana. They enjoyed living in the heart of the French Quarter experiencing the rich culture, traditions, and people. Not surprisingly, Judy quickly found a full appreciation of antique shopping! She also loved hosting friends in their new city to be their tour guide. A year later they moved to Covington, Louisiana where she lived for 54 years. Their new home was under tall pines and across the street from the tennis courts where they both would enjoy countless hours playing with friends.
During the years she lived there, she was a docent at the New Orleans Museum of Art, served on the board of Family of the Americas Foundation, was President of the Northshore Kappa Kappa Gamma Alum Association for 15 years, a volunteer for various political campaigns and children’s sports teams and PTA Cultural Arts Chairman for Mandeville Public Schools for years. She was very proud of the ‘Art Cart’ concept, which she developed and implemented in the schools to continue her lifelong passion for art and teaching. It was designed to expose children to different drawing techniques, materials and an overall love for what she would say was ‘real’ art.
Most importantly, her time and energy was devoted to her children, Christine and TC. Her love and support came in all forms – being their cheerleader from school to sports and everywhere in between. Her grandchildren were her next love. She attended dance recitals, all types of sporting events, grandparents' day and cherished any reason to see them. Her love language was gift giving. Each grandchild has special treasures she picked out for them over the years which are wonderful reminders of her thoughtfulness and love for them.
Family vacations were very important to her. Every summer the family would spend weeks at Higgins Lake, Michigan. The Fords were known to skip the first week of school to extend the summer! Judy spent over 50 summers at the family cottage where family and friends provided a lifetime of happy memories including early morning tennis matches, telescope star gazing, jogging the path, cocktail parties, water sports and years of sleeping outside on the swing (yes, outside!).
Some of Judy’s favorite things were: coffee on her patio in the early mornings, identifying birds using her app, fried green tomatoes at Rips on the Lake, Lilly Pulitzer anything, pink peppermint ice cream with hot fudge at the Lakeside Dining Hall, walking along the Mandeville Lakefront, an Old Fashioned, chilly crisp weather, journaling, watching golf and following her favorite players, canoeing, polished silver, shopping at the Mandeville Farmer’s Market, Family Circle cartoons, amaretto snowballs and sitting on the end of the dock watching the sunset on Higgins Lake.
The family would like to extend their most sincere thanks to Judy’s caregivers including long-time family friend Joni Keller, and Kim Hollins who treated her with love, respect, and the absolute best care in addition to Enhabit Hospice and her Ochsner doctors.
Friends and family are invited to her memorial service at the Chapel, Christ Episcopal Church at 12:30pm on June 22nd followed by a Celebration of Life from 2pm – 5pm at Dakota Restaurant, Covington. In honor of Judy’s bright and positive outlook on life, if you are inclined, wear a bright color or even some Lilly Pulitzer!
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in memory of Judy to: The Lakeside Memorial Fund (c/o Cindy Torrence, 457 Old Stage Road, Roscommon, MI 48653). Please sign the E.J. Fielding Funeral Home online Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Judith?
What’s a lesson you learned from Judith?
Share a story where Judith's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Judith you’ll never forget.
How did Judith make you smile?