West Lafayette – Judith L. (Bonnet) Ciecka, 82, of West Lafayette, IN, passed away on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, IN.
Judy’s life story started November 30, 1940 in Lafayette, IN, (born to Christopher H. Bonnet and Beatrice M. (Pattee) Bonnet). On first glance it would appear Judy never strayed far from Lafayette; having been born, married (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception) and died here, but nothing could be further from the truth. She referred to herself as an “army brat”, traveling widely while her father was in the U.S. Army. Lafayette remained a “home base” as she lived and went to school in various places ranging from Germany to Japan, Oklahoma to Louisiana.
After graduating from Jefferson High School (Lafayette again), Judy attended Presbyterian-St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Chicago, completing a nursing degree in 1961. While raising three children, she went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree, worked at Lakeview Hospital in various nursing positions, with health insurance companies, and her favorite, occupational health nursing at General Motors, Tee-Pak, and at the former Bohn Heat Transfer in Danville, IL. She finished her career at the Danville Veterans Administration Medical Center.
After moving from place to place as a child, Judy continued to travel and explore new places either with her family and friends or for work. From yearly trips to Wisconsin and Texas, to bucket-list trips to Alaska, Hawaii, London and Prague, Judy enjoyed them all.
When not traveling or working, she had an active friend group (Ladies of the Nile), volunteered for many tasks within St. Paul’s Catholic Parish including the Parish Nursing Program, and enjoyed the Vermilion Valley Quilters group. Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were all recipients of her passions for family, books, sewing, and quilting. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that shopping for all of the above was her favorite “hobby”.
Judy was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Thomas J. Ciecka.
She is survived by her sister Ann (Bonnet) Thompson of Colorado Springs, CO; sons Chris (Gloria) Ciecka of Fayetteville, GA and Mike (Amy) Ciecka of Corinth, TX, and daughter Anna Ciecka (Kerry Rabenold) of West Lafayette, IN; grandchildren Jonathan Ciecka, Maia Rabenold, Emma and Cara Ciecka; nephews Greg and Doug Samuelson and nieces Sarah (Thompson) Misleh and Amanda (Thompson) Jacobs.
Leave a Tribute