Date of Birth:
Sunday, September 8, 1946
Date of Death:
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Age:
78 years old

Judith A. Galligos

With humble acceptance of God’s will, and with deep sorrow, we announce the death of our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Wife, Judith Anne Galligos (Riess). Jude, as she was affectionately known, passed away at her residence on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Judith was born on September 8, 1946, in Rochester, Minnesota, the daughter of the late Grace Riess (Pinkham) and Arthur Riess. Jude is survived by her husband of 39 years, Charley Galligos; two daughters, Michele Lunaas (Eric Lunaas) and Kimberly Bleifus (Russell Bleifus); two stepsons, Todd Galligos and David Galligos; sister, Jane Beardsley and brother, Jon Riess (Sandy Riess); ten grandchildren, Katimm Giese, Kohlten Doty-Davitt, Kadhan Doty-Davitt, TorAsbjorn Lunaas, Kjell Lunaas, Edward Bleifus (Alysha Bleifus), Tyrel Bleifus (Jennie Bleifus), Lukas Bleifus (Riley Bleifus) Megan Galligos and Matthew Galligos; three great-grandchildren, Marshall Bleifus, Caleb Bleifus and Laurel Bleifus. Jude is also survived by nephews and nieces who will sadly miss her.

Jude’s journey on this earth was one of kindness, caregiving and providing assistance to family members and friends marked by love, compassion and her unwavering faith in God.

Jude’s greatest joy was her interaction and caring for her grandchildren, where she devoted countless hours with them. Jude was highly artistic and very much enjoyed a variety of crafts; jewelry making, knitting, sewing, drawing and painting. She enjoyed doing craft projects with her daughters and teaching her grandchildren skills in doing arts and crafts. She was also highly skilled at designing floral arrangements for a variety of events as well, designing and baking wedding cakes and other baked pastries in recognition of the various holidays and occasions.

Jude has had many professions throughout her life. Jude achieved a license for cosmetology and practiced her skills at a local beauty salon in Rochester, Minnesota. She worked in the Rochester, Minnesota school system as a teacher’s assistant, working with handicapped youth. She worked for approximately ten years at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota as a certified unit coordinator and she worked in the administration section at the department of orthopedics.

Perhaps her most challenging work was being a “Navy Wife” of a 20 year military husband and taking on all the responsibilities of managing a household as her husband was on deployment during the Persian Gulf War. Jude maintained the homestead as well as working at an elementary school as a teacher’s assistant in Santee, California. Jude and her husband moved to new duty stations every three years or so; California, Hawaii, Texas and Georgia. She most always found employment working where she designed and created floral arrangements or in a local city school system.

Jude was a very independent woman and enjoyed the freedom she had to travel on her own. She drove her vehicle to and from Minnesota to be with family members as she resided in the states of California, Texas and Georgia. She traveled alone to Tijuana, Mexico from San Diego when she and her husband were stationed at San Diego Naval Station. She was a very wise and “common sense” woman knowing her limitations and always practiced caution and safety as she ventured on her journeys alone.

Jude had a very charismatic personality and made friends easily. She was highly confident and a self sufficient woman yet she was wise to the potential fraudulent personalities and deception from others. Judy had a talent for “Being able to read people”. She had an uncanny way of understanding someone’s emotions, intentions and thoughts by communicating with them and observing their body language, expressions and voice fluctuation that provided her a perception of the persons sincerity and authenticity. She was most often correct in her assessment and it provided her a means for trustworthiness of someone when choosing potential friendships. Her spouse and others commented their thought that she would make a good therapist, Jude wanted nothing to do with practicing therapy on others, she would just focus on keeping her husband, daughters and grandkids on the “straight and narrow”. Jude’s wishes were to be cremated immediately after her death. She did not want a funeral home viewing or memorial service. Jude requested that her ashes be buried at a quaint, unique cemetery with family members present, if they so choose to attend. Jude’s wishes will be honored and her burial will take place in the spring of 2025.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Judith and her family. Condolence may be sent to the family at Jude’s residence, 309 2^nd St. NW, Stewartville, MN 55976.