Judith Ann Simoni

Judith Ann Simoni, born on June 5th, 1943 passed away at the age of 82 on Tuesday August 12th, 2025 at her home in Lake Geneva, WI.

She passed with her family and her loyal and protective cat Lizzy by her side.

Judi was survived by her three daughters, Heather Drye, Marie Esposito, and Gina York, her grandchildren, Tyler, Michaela, Marcus, Trevor, Katrina, Bryan, and Brett and her great grandchildren Liam, Emilee, Bentley, Laniyah, Kobe, and Zayne.

She is also survived by her nephew Steven, niece Jennifer, great-nephew Jaxson and great-nieces Lexi and Addy.

She was predeceased by her parents and her beloved sister Deborah.

After years as a hair stylist in Illinois,  Judi spent part of her career working at the Kettle Moraine ranch then at The Lake Geneva Playboy Club into its Americana days. After that she worked for several years at Watlow Gordon until she retired to help care for her mother.

Anyone who had known Judi knew that family had a very special place in her heart and it didn’t hold the restrictions of being blood related. There are countless people who knew her simply by Mom, Ma, Mother, Grandma, GiGi, or Juda (Jenna and Desna, IYKYK).  Judi gave the same unconditional love, advice, (and sometimes really strong opinions), to all that she held under her wings. She was a fierce supporter and protector. That woman didn’t hold back the good, the bad, or the ugly. In the end, everyone knew she would be there to celebrate with them or to hand them a tissue, and would love them through it all.

As her daughters will tell you, she softened quite a bit with her grandchildren and even more so when her great grandchildren came alone. It often left them wondering who this new, more patient lady was. Her great grandchildren were her greatest source of joy and liveliness through her later years and surely kept her feeling young.

Judi was so blessed to have her group of amazing girlfriends of 40+ years. They loved to travel together, go fishing up north, gamble, play cards, have slumber parties, and celebrate each other. She is survived by Carol, Kerri, and Debbie and is whooping it up in the afterlife with Marilyn and Deb.

She will be known for her many “Judi-isms” Please feel free to share any of these. Just a few are “if you feel froggy, just jump”, “if you hoot with the owls at night, you can’t soar with the eagles in the morning”, and one of her favorites later in life, “bite my old wrinkled ass”.

Her family will be holding a celebration of life on Sunday, October 5th from 2pm-5pm at the Pioneer Estates recreation center.  N2020 WI-120, Lake Geneva, WI 53147.

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Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting Judith's family.