Judith "Judy" Ann Jones

Judith Ann Scarisbrick Schwanbeck Jones was born on September 22, 1936. The only child of Fred & Grace Scarisbrick, Judy spent her early years on the family farm on Lewis Avenue in Temperance, Michigan. The family would later move to their forever home on Westway Avenue in Toledo, Ohio. Although Judy was an only child, you would never know it from her large, wide circle of friends and family surrounding her. Many of her childhood friends became lifelong friends!

Judy attended Thomas A. DeVilbiss High School and Toledo University (as it was then called); graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelors degree in Education. While at TU, Judy joined the Theta Psi chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Not only was she active during her undergrad years, she was also very involved as an Alumni, and served on the University Panhellenic Council for a number of years.

1958 was a pretty big year in Judy’s life! She graduated college, became a business and typing teacher at Burnham High School in the Sylvania School system, AND on October 17, Judy married Charles (Chuck) Schwanbeck. In 1961, Judy and Chuck welcomed their daughter Beth. Judy became a stay at home Mom. Their family was complete when Brad was born in 1963. Mom was involved in the PTO at Longfellow School, bowled in the Mom’s league at Marathon Lanes and was wherever she needed to be whenever she needed to be there, albeit she was usually a little late!

After Beth and Brad were in high school, Judy went back to work as a home based teacher with the Toledo Head Start program - a job she loved. She was a wonderful, patient teacher who cared about each and every one of her students. Later, she would go to work in the Head Start offices. Although she and Chuck would not remain husband and wife, they remained friends. Judy was a loving caregiver to him when he fell ill in 2003 until his passing that same year.

Judy met and later married Richard Jones in 1990. Richard’s family embraced Mom (Judy #3 as she was affectionately known) with love and open arms. Following their marriage, Judy and Dick set off for Arizona in their motor home with their Fudge Machine in tow and started second careers as concessionaires at festivals and county fairs. This was another job that our “people person” Mom loved to do. She could sell sweets and talk to people all day long! Oh, AND they could enjoy warm weather all day long too!

After Mom & Richard returned to Ohio, Judy began working in the Lucas County Clerk of Courts office at the Lucas County Family Court. Add this job to those she loved doing - just ask her, she’ll tell you! On weekends in the summer and early fall, she and Richard would take the Fudge Machine to local festivals and county fairs; they sold some of the best fudge around! After retiring from the Clerk’s office, she loved spending time with family and friends. Family was always so important to Judy. She cherished her family - she would tell everyone that she had the BEST family. Well, that goes both ways - WE are the ones who were truly blessed. While Richard was a resident at Perrysburg Rehab Center and she lived right next door at Perrysburg Commons - she rode her rascal scooter over to spend every day with him until his passing. If you needed her, she was there; if you needed it, she’d share whatever she had; she was truly selfless.

While a resident at Perrysburg Commons, she volunteered at the reception desk - answering the phone and greeting residents and visitors. Mom was a member of the resident council advocating for, among other things, hot food staying hot til it got to the table. She liked nothing better than a plate of HOT food and cup of ICY cold ice water. Judy was a member of the “welcome wagon” - showing new residents around, introducing them to their new neighbors and doing whatever she could to make them feel comfortable, welcome & at home. She even starred in an online Marketing video for “The Commons”! 

Mom moved from “The Commons” to Perrysburg Rehab and then to the Goerlich Center. At the Goerlich Center, she was honored to have a “Hearts Desire” wish granted which included attending her granddaughter’s wedding in a lovely fashionable new dress, complete with accessories. She’d get her hair done and have her transportation arranged-complete with caring, wonderful escorts who tended to her every need. Her family is so grateful for the staff at Goerlich who nominated her and made it such a memorable day for her. Her granddaughter had no idea “Marizona” would be attending the wedding and it made for a wonderful surprise for Anna and Groom Chris.

Making friends wherever she went was Mom’s super power!! For the past year, she has been a resident at the Franciscan Care Center. The circle of friends that was created in that short time is amazing - not only with fellow residents, but with her caregivers as well. With a smile on her face and a side-eye if she had to wake up earlier than she liked, she’d cruise thru her day in her specially made wheelchair, playing Bingo, listing to music and enjoying conversation with residents and staff. 

Judy loved to travel (traveling by train was her favorite-her Dad and Uncles worked on the railroad) and hang out with her friends and family (and her kids’ friends too). Bowling, reading, puzzles, board and card games, cribbage, listening to music and, did we mention, being with family and friends.

We could go on and on with stories and anecdotes about our beautiful Mom, but if you knew her, you already know!

Left to cherish the memory of Mom are daughter Beth Breier and son and daughter-in-law Brad & Shannon. Judy’s grandchildren Samantha (Josh) Kirby, Dillon (Alisa Jordan) Schwanbeck, Wyatt (Maegan) Schwanbeck, Megan (Abbott) Skelding, Katie Breier and Anna (Chris) Kelly will always have wonderful memories of their Grandma/Marizona. Great Grandma Judy treasured Henrik & Emelia Kirby, Dillon Schwanbeck, Jr. and George Skelding - who called her his Mozana/Mizmona. Judy is also survived by her sister-in-law Karen Lay, and her children Art, Jr & Gary and their families; special cousins Pat & Sue Seary and their children Jack, Jill & Jennifer and their families and the Jones Clan - all of whom welcomed Mom with open arms and loved her from day 1 - children Lynn Jones, Cindy Jones, Mick Jones, Dana & John Istler; grandchildren Amber (Austin) Latta-Pratt, Allen Jones, Nicole/Coco (Jaxon) Scofield, Olivia and Tanner Jones, Jeremy (Lisa) Istler and Keith Istler; and great-grandchildren Isabella Jones and Alister Latta-Pratt. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, first husband and friend Chuck Schwanbeck, son-in-law Fred Breier, brother-in-law Art Schwanbeck, Sr. and nephew Rick Schwanbeck. 

We would like to give special thanks to Joanie, Chaplain Ron, Makenzie and everyone at Kind Hearts Hospice who made sure Mom’s journey was peaceful. To Kim, Mo, Heather, Elaine, Jeff, Natalie, Tatum and ALL of Mom’s wonderful caregivers and staff at Franciscan Care Center, thank you for the exceptional and sweet care you took of Mom-she couldn’t have been in better hands. To our family and friends who visited, texted and called to check on Mom and us as she journeyed to Jesus’ arms, thank you - we are ALL blessed to have each other to lean on. 

Family and friends may visit at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 West Laskey Road, Toledo, Ohio 43623, on Sunday, October 27, 2024, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Funeral services will take place at 1:30 pm. Judy will be laid to rest at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, where a private family service will take place.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Kind Hearts Hospice and the activities department at Franciscan Care Center, 4111 N. Holland Sylvania Road.

To share a memory of Judy or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.