Obituary of Judith R. Belluomini

Judith Belluomini (nee Hellinga) passed away on January 9, 2024 at home in hospice care with her husband Frank by her side.

Judy was born on July 2, 1940 in Chicago to Regina (Butkus) Hellinga and Gerard Hellinga. They moved to a woodsy area in LaPorte, Indiana where Judy enjoyed collecting turtles in a nearby creek and riding a neighbor’s horse. Her parents later moved to Hammond, Indiana where she attended Hammond Morton High School. While living in Indiana and with her father's influence, Judy became a lifelong dyed-in-the-wool Chicago White Sox and Green Bay Packers fan. She graduated from Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in 1962 with a degree in physical education. She was the center on the college basketball team and pledged Sigma Alpha Sigma.

Judy first met Frank in 1966 at Loyola University Lewis Towers where they were both taking a Sociology of Education course. Frank later learned from Judy that she intentionally moved to the back of the room just to be next to him. They dated for 3 years and got married on August 9, 1969 at Quigley Chapel in Chicago and were married for 54 years. They first moved to Evanston and eventually settled down in Libertyville, Illinois where they have resided for 49 years. It was while living in Libertyville that Judy developed her love for collies.

Judy's first and only teaching position was at Golf School District 67 in Morton Grove, Illinois where she taught elementary physical education. Much of her life was dedicated to her pupils instilling in them the importance of teamwork and encouraging them to work up to their full potential. She often would have gym shows so her students could show their parents the skills they learned in her class. She even shared her love for Collies with her students and was ahead of her time by keeping them in her gym office and letting them be walked by her students at recess to their delight. The Board of Education honored Judy for her 44 years of exemplary service by naming the Hynes Elementary School's gymnasium after her in June of 2006.

Judy enjoyed connecting with children so much she started Adventure Day Camp in the summers, which many of her students attended. The kids could participate in canoeing at Skokie Lagoons, trampolining, horseback riding, archery, and several other activities at this camp. She even loaded her own convertible Chevrolet Impala with equipment and students to take them to several activities.

Judy and Frank also spent a lot of time at their cottage in St. Germain, Wisconsin where Judy enjoyed taking her collies on runs on Lost Creek Trail, cooking out, driving her pontoon boat, and fishing on Big St. Germain Lake as well of other lakes in the area. This cottage was also a gathering place for Judy and several of her friends, including the “six forever teacher friends” on Columbus Day Weekends.

Her passion for Collies was unquestionable. With the help of dog trainers and breed handlers, Judy achieved success and many awards in both obedience and tracking with several of her collies. But the awards that stand out the most was her collie Brett receiving an Award of Merit at the 2010 Westminster Kennel Club and holding the record for the first All Breed Best in Show Rough Collie to have earned a Tracking Dog Excellent Title. In spite of all her achievements and enjoyment in showing and working with her collies, she was still most proud of her 44 years of teaching children.

We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Advocate Condell especially Nurse Jackie and to JourneyCare Hospice especially nurse Kristi and CAN Debbie for their loving support in the final moments. “Rather than mourn the absence of the flame, let us celebrate how brightly it burned.”

Judy is survived by her husband Frank and brother Jerry Hellinga, nephews Christopher (Lyndsey) Hellinga, Andrew Hellinga, Mario (Diana) Belluomini, nieces Nicole Latino, Gina (Kevin) McGuire, Marina (Ronald) Litton, and our Wisconsin cousins, Dan and Mary Jane Butkus, Janet Appling, Maria Butkus Bomier and Roger Degris.

Visitation for Judy will be held from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday January 20th at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Pl, Libertyville with a service following at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Lakeside Cemetery, Libertyville. In lieu of flowers, memorials made to either the Collie Club Foundation, www.colliehealth.org, Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter, 2200 Riverwoods Rd., Deerfield, Illinois 60015, or the Illinois Education Association Foundation, In Memory of Judy Belluomini, Attn: Ashly Midiri,100 E. Edwards St., Springfield, IL 62704. Funeral information (847) 362-2626. Please sign the guestbook at libertyvillefuneralhome.com