Judy Lorrell Bernsdorf Shema
Judy Lorrell Shema, 68, of Roanoke, VA, formerly of Great Falls, MT and Virginia Beach, VA, passed away at her home on Friday, June 25, 2021. She was born on Monday, July 14, 1952, to the late Walter and Evelyn Bernsdor in Great Falls, MT. Judy met her husband Tom while attending Montana State University during a Theater Arts class.
She married Tom and followed him through 17 years of Naval Service. They would have been celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Judy had a professional life as a librarian and worked at the Montana State University Arts and Architecture Library, the NASA Ames Library in Sunnyvale, CA, and the Lynchburg College Library. Judy had a lifelong interest in cooking and learning about cooking. She was an expert. She also loved the Ocean, taking cruises, and traveling. She was always planning her next trip.
Judy had a wonderful sense of humor and could find joy everywhere in life. She loved the theater and movies and loved to talk about sets, costumes, rehearsals, and theater productions. Judy worked to make sure the house was well decorated and festive for every season and holiday throughout the year. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she would prepare for it year-round. Judy had a wonderful sense of history. She loved to visit old buildings, historic sites, museums and to read about history.
She was interested in antique cooking techniques and experimented with old recipes and cooking on cast iron skillets and studying pre-industrial food preparation and preservation techniques.
Judy loved her family dearly, and she leaves behind her husband, Thomas P. Shema Sr.: daughter, Ginny E. Morgan and husband, Patrick; son, Thomas P. Shema Jr. and wife, Danielle; grandchildren, Riley Joy Morgan, and Mason Everett Morgan.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem with Pastor Hilton Jeffreys officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to American Diabetes Association, donations.diabetes.org, or to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, stjude.org/donate, in honor of Judy.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.
