Judy (Kemmer) Hesselberth

 

Judith (Judy) K. Hesselberth of West Chester Judith (Judy) K. Hesselberth died on Sunday, December 27, 2015 after a 16 year battle with cancer. She was 75 years old. Judy was a fiber artist, art teacher and mother. Her fiber arts interests covered the range from weaving to knitting to garment design and fabrication to needlepoint although in recent years she focused on designing and making art quilts. She was a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen in both weaving and quilting. She taught art both as a volunteer and a 7th grade art teacher in Kinston, N.C. in the late 1970s. She particularly loved the creative approach to art projects of 7th graders. She surrounded her family with abundant art projects, nurturing their creativity and artistic expression. She introduced them to pottery, basketry, drawing, and painting as well as the fiber arts. From this, her husband John developed a passion for stoneware pottery and developing glazes, her daughter Joyce chose a career in illustration, and her daughter Janet applies conceptual creativity to IT Solutions. Judy earned a B.S. at Purdue University in Clothing and Textiles and a B.S. in Art Education at East Carolina University. She grew up at a time when young women were expected to be housewives and mothers, secretaries, receptionists, or librarians. While she did an outstanding job of the first caring for a family and raising two daughters with her husband, she rejected the traditional occupations for women and wanted to be an artist. That was not possible in the circumstances she found herself at Purdue so she went back to school at East Carolina when she already had a full time job as a homemaker. Her struggle with cancer was exceptionally courageous. After initial diagnosis and treatments, she went into remission for 9 years before the cancer recurred. While treatments took a toll on her body, they did nothing to dampen her fighting spirit. She had outstanding help in the battle from her oncologist, gynecologist, and primary care physician. The nurses and staff at the Chester County Cancer Center in West Chester, Pa. were also a great source of caring support. Judy is survived by her husband, John Hesselberth; two daughters, Janet Hesselberth and Joyce Hesselberth, Joyce’s spouse David Plunkert; five grandchildren, Madison, Kira, Elise, Emma and Jacob; and two sisters, Janet Hutching and Ann Olvey. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chester County Hospital Foundation, designated for the benefit of the Chester County Cancer Center, Attn: SHINE, 701 East Marshall Street, West Chester, PA 19380 www.chestercountyhospital.org/cchfdnhome.asp Condolences may be made to the family at: www.longwoodfuneralhome.com Arr. by Longwood Funeral Home of Matthew Genereux Kennett Square.