Judith "Ju Ju" Patricia Atkinson met her Heavenly Father on Easter morning (March 27, 2016) with her daughters by her side. After a two-year courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, her final days were spent surrounded in love by family and friends. Judi was preceded in death by her parents Fitzgerald "Jerry" Atkinson and Ruth Atkinson and her beloved grandmother Catherine Atkinson. She is survived by husband Ronald Prychodnik, daughters Wendy and Tara , son-in-law Ian , grandsons Adam and Aidric and her beloved dogs Zenny and Scooter.
Judi was born on March 26, 1947 in Nashville, TN where she attended Julia Green and Percy Priest Elementary Schools and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1965. During her childhood years, she enjoyed swimming, boating, basketball, Girl Scouts, and camp. She developed a love of arts and humanities and graduated from Stephens College in 1969 with a BFA in Art with and emphasis in Fashion Design and a minor in English.
Despite the encouragement of her professors, Judi decided not to move to New York to pursue a career in the fashion industry, and instead followed her first husband Bruce Nash to Taiwan where he was stationed in the Air Force. While in Taiwan, she taught English at a community college and enjoyed learning about the country's culture. She moved back to Nashville in 1972 and loved raising her daughter Wendy as a full-time mom.
After her divorce, she began a career in banking at First American National Bank in Nashville, as an assistant in the Purchasing Department. She took business classes at night and advanced to be the lead Purchaser for the Bank.
While at a family reunion in Arizona in 1984, Judi was introduced to the love of her life Ron Prychodnik (friend of the family). Judi and Ron were married in 1985, Judi moved to Arizona and adopted his daughter Tara. Judi enjoyed raising her daughters and bookkeeping for Arizona Wall Systems (Ron's contracting business). In 1991, a career opportunity moved Ron, Judi and Tara to Kauai, HI for two years where Judi embraced the island life. Ron and Judi made many wonderful trips to Kauai after moving back to the mainland.
Judi moved back to Arizona with her family and discovered her true calling as a Realtor. She started with Century21 and ended her 24-year Real Estate career with Coldwell Banker, where she received many awards and recognitions. Helping people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives (buying or selling their homes) was a great joy to her. She approached her career with a sincere desire to make a difference in the lives of others; it is no surprise that many of her closest friends are her colleagues and past clients.
In her later years, her happiest times were spent in Payson, AZ with Ron and her dogs, visiting with family and friends and playing with her grandson.
Judi volunteered her time and talents to many organizations throughout her life, including Nashville Academy Theater, Ronald McDonald House, teaching Sunday School at Forest Hills UMC (TN) and Grace UMC (AZ), leading Brownie Scouts and Art Masterpiece classes. In her earlier years, she spent time campaigning for her father's political career. She had a soft spot in her heart for animals and contributed to many local animal shelters.
Judi will be remembered for her generous heart, wonderful sense of humor, charismatic personality, impeccable sense of style, non-stop energy and passion for life. She had a special way of making everyone she knew feel happy and loved.
A Celebration of Judi's life will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00am at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary at 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027.
The family would like to thank Judi's wonderful caregivers from The Perfect Companion and the nurses at The Hospice of the Valley Eckstein Center for their tender loving care for this special lady.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Arizona ASPCA or Hospice of the Valley , Phoenix, AZ