Judy Harkin
Judy Harkin was a spontaneous and loving spirit. She never left home without her teased red hair and overdone make up. She celebrated every holiday as if it were her last. Impulsive and uneven, she was a wonderful friend that gifted those around her with generous warmth. Proud to be a Gemini she disliked being confined. In her younger years she found herself on an endless quest to find what she had missed.
An artistic soul she accepted others and embraced diversity before it became fashionable. Known fondly as Grams, she constantly bragged about her mother, 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren to anyone who would listen. Her love for variety and stimulation focused on fun, not responsibility. She embraced life’s pleasures and saw beauty in sharing an honest opinion or watching the migration of monarch butterflies.
She touched her daughters by being a loving grandmother who never lived by the rules. Judy challenged all conventions; whether she was mailing an ant farm, watching Shakespeare in the park, covering with her fringed leopard blanket or buying pink sequined tiaras. A pragmatic optimistic, she lived life on her own terms and nobody could tell her what to do or how to do it. When she set her mind to something Judy’s determination remained unrelenting. She beat the odds, more times than you can count.
She adored horses, dogs and welcoming new residents to her Sunrise family. Married to Paul, the love of her life for 17 years, she found a man who accepted her completely. He embraced her eccentricities and loved her unconditionally, no matter how many zebras she bought.
Adored by her Sunrise family, she remained deeply intertwined in making each day a celebration. She knew every member of the staff by name and went out of her way to say kind words daily to the community members that helped her thrive. She took enormous pride in her role as president of sunrise of Sunnyvale and was respected by her peers.
Always smiling, flamboyant and joyful, she represented a kind spirit and open heart. A friend was more important than a dollar, she was generous with her time and money. If anyone needed anything, nine times out of ten she pulled it out of her purse. Whether she was ordering Friday night pizza, rallying up people to join a lunch outing with Merci, playing dominos or driving down the hall in her power chair, she always moved forward at full speed.
Judy taught us all some life lessons, wear bright colors, smile at everyone, don’t compromise when you want something and most importantly, you can never have too much glitter.