Judith Westra

WESTRA, Judith “Judy” (Hagedoorn) went home to be with her Savior and Lord on her 82nd birthday, April 12, 2025. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Westra, her son, Donald Westra, Jr., and a brother, Peter Hagedoorn. She was a member of Faith Community Church in Wyckoff, NJ.

Judy is survived by daughter Pamela Abma and husband James Abma of Wyckoff, NJ; daughter-in-law Mary Westra of North Haledon, NJ; son Michael Westra and wife Sandra of North Haledon, NJ; son John Westra and wife Kristin of Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ; brother Harold Hagedoorn of Lynchburg, VA; and sister Elizabeth (Hagedoorn) Kolk of Fort Mill, SC. She adored, and was adored by, her 11 grandchildren (plus 6 grandchildren through marriage) and 10 great-grandchildren.

Judy was born in Paterson, NJ in 1943 and grew up in Prospect Park. She married Donald Westra in 1962 and they were devoted to each other for 56 years until Don’s death in 2018. She lived most of her married life in Wayne and North Haledon, as well as frequent visits to a beloved home in Lake Pleasant, NY. After Don’s retirement, they enjoyed traveling and spent many winter months in Boynton Beach, FL. After losing Don, Judy found a new home and community at the Vista at Christian Health in Wyckoff, a place which she came to love and appreciate very much.

Family was incredibly important to Judy, and she delighted in her role as matriarch. The home in the Adirondack Mountains was a special place to her, not in small part because it was a gathering place to spend time with family. She enjoyed many hobbies throughout her life, including tennis, golf, bowling, snowmobiling, photography, cooking, and singing in the church choir.

Judy loved and faithfully followed her Lord Jesus Christ, passing on to her family a rich legacy of Christian devotion. She impacted countless lives through her quiet generosity and faithful stewardship of God’s material blessings. She was very wise, had a lot of “street smarts,” and was fiercely independent. Yet, she also had a silly, playful side that loved to tease and play pranks, and her sense of humor was evident right up to the end.

The Westra Family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 16th, 4:00-8:00pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 17th at 11:00am at Faith Community Christian Reformed Church. Interment will be private in the Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Totowa. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Eastern Christian School Association, 50 Oakwood Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508, the Christian Health Foundation, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481, or Touch the World, 1 Maple St., Allendale, NJ 07401.

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