Judith Elizabeth Szabo

Judith Elizabeth (Judy) Szabo, age 79 of Parma, Ohio passed away December 18, 2021. Beloved mother of Joseph (Deborah) Setele and Joy Setele, and loving grandmother to Claire Setele. Judy was born April 21, 1942 to Ferdinand and Elizabeth Szabo. She grew up in Maple Heights and graduated Maple Heights High School class of 1960. She married Joseph J. Setele in 1966 and they went on to have two children before going their separate ways in 1989. Son Joe is a Cinematographer who lives in Culver City, CA with his wife and daughter. Daughter Joy lives in Parma and works for the Department of Defense.

Judy loved children and, while raising two of her own, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Primary Education from Baldwin Wallace University in 1983. She went on to become an Elementary School teacher in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Never one to stop learning, she earned her MA in Education from Cleveland State University in 2005. After retiring she continued working as a substitute teacher.

Fun loving and adventurous, Judy loved to travel. She visited Manchester, England several times while her daughter was in school there. She traveled to Ireland with Father Evans and a group from St. Columbkille Parish. She and her daughter took a Danube River Cruise from Germany to Budapest, Hungary (she was very proud of her Hungarian heritage). She loved travelling throughout the US as well. She ventured to Alaska and the Yukon with friends and to New York City where she saw a taping of David Letterman. One special trip she made was to Santa Fe to visit Joe while he filmed the TV show “Lazarus Man.” She had so much fun visiting Joe on sets and watching him work. She made many trips to Los Angeles to spend time with her granddaughter. She especially enjoyed taking Claire to Disneyland and showering her with gifts.

Locally, she enjoyed watching Premiere League Football Club team Manchester City play matches with Joy at the Old Angle Bar with a pint of Guinness. She also loved to entertain friends and family at her home. She was a loyal and loving friend. Whether she knew you since high school or for just a few months, she was always there for her friends. She will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing her.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Family Church, 7367 York Road, Parma on Tuesday, December 28 at 11:30 a.m. with a reception to follow at Ripepi Funeral Home 5762 Pearl Rd. (at Snow Rd.).