Judy A. Smits, 69, Appleton, passed away peacefully at home with her family on November 10, 2009.

She was born on March 2, 1940, in Menominee, MI to Leslie and Ursula (Martens) Peters. She graduated from Green Bay West high school in 1959.On September 5, 1964, Judy married James R. Smits at Annunciation Catholic Church in Green Bay. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Appleton. Judy retired from the Ben Franklin Store after 11 years as a bookkeeper. After retirement, Judy enjoyed spending her winters in Florida. And while she loved it down there, she couldn't wait to return to family and friends in Wisconsin. She found great joy in the holidays, decorating her house for every season. Cooking for family gatherings was very important to her; no matter what size the home, there could never be too many people or too much food.


Survivors include her husband, Jim Smits, Appleton; three sons, Mark (Tammy Senk) Smits, Sherwood; Brian (Jane) Smits, Appleton; and Steve (Christine Levenhagen) Smits, Menasha; two grandchildren, Brianna and Joshua Smits; her mother, Ursula Peters, Green Bay; three brothers, L. John (Debra) Peters, Menominie, WI; Dick (Gloria) Peters, Green Bay; and Bob (Lorraine) Peters, Howard; two sisters, Joan Johnston and Sharen (Glenn) Goddard, both of Green Bay; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Caryl and Mary Peters, both of Green Bay; Carolyn (George) Hall, Idyllwild, Ca; Fr. Ken Smits, Fond du Lac; Marlene (Terry) Geurts, Green Bay; Bob (Diane) Smits, New Berlin; John (Jo) Smits, DePere; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leslie J. Peters; her father- and mother-in-law, Marvin and Gertrude (Dennisen) Smits; two brothers, Gerald Peters and William Peters; infant brother, Jimmy Peters; brothers-in-law, Herb T. Johnston and Richard Smits; one sister-in-law, Cheryl Peters; and one niece, Robin Wallace.

The Memorial Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at ST. BERNADETTE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2331 East Lourdes Drive, Appleton, with Frs. Donald Zuleger and Kenneth Smits concelebrating. Friends may call directly at the church Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.

Thank you so very much to family and friends for their support during Judy's courageous battle. The family also wants to express a big thank you to the Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology staff, those wonderful nurses at AMC Three South, and the Theda Care At Home Hospice group for the care they gave to Judy.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231
Online Condolences
www.wichmannfargo.com

Heirloom Doll

In 1922, the year Grampa Ed died, Mathias Martens gave Ursula and Margaret each a porcelain doll from Germany. This is Ursula's Doll, which is now the proud possession of Steve.

A WONDERFUL GIFT and A HEART- FELT THANK YOU to the PETERS FAMILY

Oftentimes, I wonder where my talent and interests in Art evolved from. Why did I have a strong yearning to sew, quilt,weave,sculpt, write, play musical instruments, and a never ending quest for knowledge? I remember my mom with the pump-action Singer sewing machine making/patching and doing some hand sewing but she never quilted to my knowledge but I have always loved fabrics and saw a class on Channel 11 on quilting many years ago and that is how I started. And, like all my projects, I had to read, collect books and just know everything about quilts. I even envisioned someday possibly doing art quilts and publishing, but life has a way of rearranging our life plans. My goal now is directed toward family - a most wonderful adventure in knowing myself thru our family.

Judy had mention some years ago about a quilt that Great Gramma Hermine Brault had made and that she had and for years, I just wanted a picture, but more importantly to feel it. I just knew that I would revisit Hermine making the quilt in her time. The Peters Family presented this quilt to me at Aunt Sula's 90th Birthday in my absence and my daughter just delivered it to me on Sunday. I want to thank the Peters family from the bottom of my heart. This is such a treasure. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I wanted to reconstruct the quilt as it originally was but Judy suggested I make something for each of my sisters to share the quilt with the family. There are 25 squares and I will make something wonderful for each of my sisters to preserve the memory of Hermine and Peters Family gift. This will always be a family treasure.