By Andrew Hackmack
She is remembered fondly as a devoted mother, trusted friend and loving sister. Judy also worked at Central Florist in Valley Stream and spent much time tending to her own garden at home. Friends say there was rarely a time they drove by her home when she wasn't outside working.
Judy left behind four children -- Thomas, 21, Nicole, 20, Melissa, 17 and Anthony, 8. Anthony is currently attending Wheeler Avenue School and Melissa is graduating from Valley Stream Central High School this week. For years, Judy worked as a lunch aide at Wheeler Avenue.
Several of Judy's children were active with the Valley Stream Soccer Club. "She was always the one driving them back and forth," sister Linda Yuskevich recalled. "She attended all of their games home and away. She worked her schedule around being at the games."
This year, the Valley Stream Soccer Club presented the first scholarship in Judy's honor to her daughter, Melissa. She will attend Rivier College in New Hampshire next year and plans to play soccer there.
For Melissa, it has been a rough six months without her mother, but her memories are fond. "She always put us first before herself," Melissa said. "If we needed something, she'd be right there."
Judy and Linda grew up in Queens together but for a while led different lives. Judy settled down in Valley Stream with her husband, Thomas, and started a family in her early 20s. Linda remembers calling Judy one day to say she was having her first child. Judy also had news -- she was having her fourth and final child. The babies were due one day apart. Linda said it was that experience that brought them closer than ever before. "She taught me how to take care of a baby," Linda said. "I always went to her for advice with kids because she's been there already."
Their mother, Carmen DeCaro, misses her "wonderful daughter" whom she absolutely adored. "I miss her tremendously and I'll never forget her," Carmen said. "She left a void in our family."
For Judy's friends, the loss is no easier than for her family. Diane Heidenfelder met Judy when their children were in elementary school together. They were also Girl Scout leaders together and once the two families went on a trip to the Poconos. Diane said Judy was one who never complained and always had a smile on her face.
Donna Albano worked with Judy at Central Florist. She recalls going to Vegas for her daughter's Sweet 16 party, and Judy and her daughter Nicole came along. It was Judy's first trip to Las Vegas and she helped chaperone seven girls. "I have never seen Judy so happy in her entire life," Donna said. "She was on cloud nine."
Wherever Judy went, "She knew how to have an awesome time," Donna added. "No matter what the situation was, she made the best of everything."
Central Florist owner Lisa Capalbi said that Judy wasn't just an employee, she was also a friend. "She was my first friend when I moved here 14 years ago," Lisa said. "She treated my business like it was her own."
Lisa recalled working alongside with Judy more than 100 hours each year in the week leading up to Valentine's Day. "Whatever she did, it was 150 percent," Lisa said.
When she wasn't inside putting floral arrangements together, Judy was outside planting flowers. Her yard on St. Marks Place looked like it was done by a professional landscaper, longtime friend Richard Murdison said. But it was all done by Judy, who wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
"Her garden reflected her spirit," Richard said. "An artist does something and you see who they are through what they create."
Tina Gargiulo, another longtime friend, said she learned a lot of landscaping and home care techniques from Judy. "She taught me how to properly dig a garden, mow a lawn, use a power tool, paint a room," Tina said. "She approached every project with confidence and strength, and because of her example I am no longer afraid to attempt what once would have overwhelmed me."
Judy and Tina were running partners. Tina said the two would meet every morning, grab a cup of coffee and run at least three miles at Hendrickson Park.
"We'd keep each other going," Tina said. "I think of her when I run, when I plant a flower, when I put up a shelf. Judy was my friend and I miss her."
Cousin William Gallardo said Judy was one who could always make him laugh. "I loved her with all my heart," he said. "When she passed away, a part of me was lost forever. I think about her every day."
