Judy M Seleski

Judy (Marzen) Seleski, age 76, of Hastings passed away January 29th, 2024 at Hastings Senior Living Center (Augustana) with her family by her side. Judy was born April 10th, 1947 in Hastings to Theresa (Holzmer) and Bernard Marzen. She married James “Boldy” Seleski on July 28th, 1968. They had four children: Jill, Joanne, Jeffery and Jimmy.

Judy suffered a life-altering stroke October 9th, 2018. Her family and friends were lucky enough to have five bonus years with her. Through it all she kept a positive attitude, was still herself, had a sense of humor and kept everyone on their toes until the end.

Judy taught her family so much. A few of those things were: to always look for the positives, to see the big picture, and that it will all work out. She never judged anyone, accepted you for who you were, was nice to everyone, included everyone “the more the merrier”, and loved to entertain and host anything, at any time, at the home she loved so much. She was forgiving, loving, kind, thoughtful, and funny. She always said “Those who know me, love me. Those who don’t, wish they did.” Once you knew Judy, you were considered family.

Judy made the most of life. She was always busy doing one thing or another. She loved to travel with anyone that would go with her or even alone. She achieved anything she set her mind to. She owned Balloons Galore, bought a convertible, had a camper, learned to drive a motorcycle, bought a cabin on Little Blake Lake in Luck, WI, travelled to Peru and all over the United States.

Judy worked as a nurse for 50 years. She retired from the Hastings Minnesota Veteran’s home in 2012. She started her career at Devine Redeemer in South St Paul, was a hospice nurse, did in-home health care, worked at Augustana nursing home, worked at Detox, and was the nurse at a boy’s teen drug rehabilitation center in St Paul. She loved her job! She cared for many, many people through the years and gave every single one of them the loving care they deserved.

Judy was an incredible grandma and nana. She loved her grandsons and her one little “polish princess” more than anything in life. Judy was able to spend one last Christmas with all of her grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Spending time with her great-grandsons was very special to her and she didn’t want to let go. She loved having her time alone with them so she could do anything she wanted. Really not a lot of rules with Nana/Grandma Jude! We had to

“de-grandmatize” them when she brought them back. She took them camping in her old camper to Lake Elmo, fishing, to the cabin, out on the pontoon, to any free event she could find, the Eagle Center, Crystal Caves, look at the Charlie Brown Statues in St Paul, out to eat (especially to Chinese buffets!), swimming at the Country Inn (it was cheaper than the waterpark), she read to them, helped them with their homework, went to their sporting events and so much more. She taught them not to have a care in the world!

Judy was the glue that held our family together. She made sure we knew our family and the importance of family near and far- in Pennsylvania, where her dad was from and right here at home. She loved being in PA and created so many memories for us all. She always wanted family around. We spent most of our holidays with our family here, she always hosted and there was always too much food! Food. I guess you could maybe say that was one of her “hobbies”. She said, “Where there’s Jude, there’s food.”

Judy’s friends meant the world to her. She had so many good friends that she had a tremendous amount of fun with. We don’t remember how many different groups of friends she had but we do remember how much she loved them and loved being with them all. The giggles and adventures you all had together were priceless. Garage sales, thrift shops (Judy definitely thrived on a “good deal” regardless if she needed it or not), Bible study, Al-Anon, Birthday months, inviting herself if she wasn’t invited, Super Bowl parties, holiday parties, traveling, Class of ’65 Reunion Crew… I know we are missing some, but you all were hard to keep up with!

Another one of Judy’s hobbies was decorating. She decorated for EVERYTHING!! And not just a little something here or there- every room! Christmas was her favorite. She loved it so much she often times kept her tree up year-round… so, yes, she decorated her tree for each season as well! Easter tree, 4th of July tree, fall tree, Halloween tree, St Patrick’s Day tree, Memorial/Labor Day tree, Valentine’s Day tree, Thanksgiving tree, Winter, Spring, Summer and anything else she could think of.

Thank you to all of those that took care of Judy these last 5 years, 3 of which were at Hastings Senior Living (Augustana). Although Judy lost the ability to use her words, she still communicated! Once you made a connection with her, she won you over with her beautiful smile, kind heart and great sense of humor. Thank you to all of those that took the time to give Judy the care she gave to so many others. Thank you for connecting with her the way some of you did. I hope you know how meaningful it is to see our mom get the care she deserved and more. Some of you loved her like you would your own mom. She knew. She loved you just as much.

Thank you to all those that were a part of Judy’s life. You made her life worth living.

Judy’s angels were waiting for her. Her parents, Theresa (Holzmer) and Bernard Marzen, Jim “Boldy” Seleski, aunts, uncles and cousins from Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

She is survived by her brother, Jerry (Char) Marzen; children, Jill (Jay) Miller, Joanne (Pete) Teigland, Jeffery (Ann Suby) Seleski, James “Jimmy” (Erica) Seleski; grandchildren, Jake (Hanna) O’Brien, Ben and John Teigland, Hunter and Cortlynn Seleski; great-grandsons, Odin and Griffin O’Brien; nieces, Amy (Dan) Cranston, Deanna (Eric) McBeath; nephews, BJ (Becky) Marzen, Jake (Carolyn) Marzen, cousin, Karleen Schlapkohl; special friend, Tom Fox and many more cousins and great nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Judy’s life will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 W. 15th St, Hastings, MN, at 12:00 PM with a visitation two hours prior. The Burial will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers to honor of Judy’s memory, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (www.stjude.org/give/memorials)

Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.