MADISON – Judy Kravat died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, on her birthday, in Madison, Wis. Judy was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 17, 1943, to Erwin and Elaine Sackin, and came to UW-Madison for college. She met her husband, Jeff, because her sorority and his fraternity were next door to each other. They married on the day after Christmas in 1964 after she graduated with a BA in Art History and Art. Judy was the love of Jeff’s life for over 51 years.

Her family and friends were always the most important things in the world to Judy because her heart was always full of goodness. She loved her friends like family and they returned her positive feelings. She was a devoted wife to Jeff, amazing mother to daughters, Stephanie Pyke (Duste) and Jenny Kravat (Mikki), and a spectacular grandmother to Matt Connery and his girlfriend, Melanie. She was a caring daughter, sister and aunt. Judy became ordained so that she was able to marry Stephanie and Duste in the backyard.

Judy had a number of important jobs and leadership positions in various charitable organizations. She was a medical tech specialist contracting with various college and university campuses and state agencies. As a bank teller she helped put Jeff through law school and then years later, when her children were grown, she worked side-by-side with Jeff in his career. She was president of the Mental Health Association of Dane County and volunteered regularly at Hadassah Collector’s Corner and with Jeff delivered Meals on Wheels and worked for Second Harvest Food Bank. She was very active in Temple Beth El, serving on the board of directors and as president of the Sisterhood and on many different temple committees.

Judy loved to have fun. She was a superb bridge player with Masters points, an excellent gourmet cook and a wonderful hostess. She helped compile and edit Temple Beth El’s successful Beth Elegant Cookbook. She loved to travel with Jeff, and with friends, to such exotic places as the Greek Islands, Turkey, Madeira, Portugal, the Caribbean and on a Viking Cruise from Bucharest to Amsterdam. Judy lived a full, joyous life.

They spent 39 happy years in the Parkwood Hills home Judy and Jeff built in 1971. Once Grandson Matt was in school, he and his friends would come to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and do their homework and play football. Matt, who became the varsity quarterback at Memorial High School, taught his doting Grandma to throw a spiral and she had him running routes. The whole family has always been Badgers and Packers fans. For the last six years they have loved their new home and friends at Sauk Creek Condos. Often Judy would wake up in the morning, look around and say, “Another day in paradise.”

Throughout her illness, Jeff and their daughters were at Judy’s side (as always) – cooking her favorite foods, taking fall color day trips, never missing her numerous meds and seeing to it she followed her doctor’s plan – hoping for a miracle.

Besides her immediate family, Judy is survived by her father, Erwin Sackin, age 100 (a World War II Naval Officer stationed in the Pacific); sister, Patricia Nelson (Steve); brother, Andrew Sackin; nieces and nephews and too many loving friends to count.

A Memorial Service filled with music will be held at TEMPLE BETH EL, 2702 Arbor Drive, Madison, on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. Cantor Deborah Martin officiating.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Second Harvest. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at University Hospital and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassionate care.

“Put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me. I want to leave you with something, something better than words or sounds. Look for me in the people I have known and loved. And if you cannot live without me, let me live on in your eyes, your mind and acts of kindness. Love does not die, people do. So when all that is left of me is love… Give me away.”

Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434