Judith Ann Collins

Judith Ann Collins was born on April 13, 1940, to Emily Wright Collins and Robert G. Collins, of Santa Rosa, CA, where she was raised.

Judy served as a registered nurse and health care professional for over 50 years.

As a youth, Judy loved going with her best friend and family to Bliss State Park, Lake Tahoe, and enjoyed regular dinners out with her family in Occidental, California. Judy graduated from Santa Rosa High School, in 1958, and St. Luke’s Nursing School in San Francisco, CA, in 1962.

She met her first husband, James W. Vestal, in San Francisco, in 1962. He had recently returned from serving as a Stars & Stripes army photographer, in South Korea. They married and moved to Redding, where Judy had her first nursing job at Memorial Hospital. A few years later, the couple moved to San Luis Obispo, where their daughter, Jennifer, was born. Jim and Judy then moved to Sacramento, where Judy worked at Mercy Hospital. In 1970, they had their son, Jason.

Judy had enthusiasm for life and was a wonderful homemaker. She made the holidays exciting, and was a great chef, with a passion for homemade pasta. Judy enjoyed listening to music, dancing, reading, and playing guitar, tennis, cribbage, and bridge.

Judy served as a health care administrator in Sacramento after receiving her Masters in Health Care Administration at California State University, Sacramento, with her thesis, 'How to Save Health Care Costs'.

In 2003, Judy moved to Scott’s Valley, California, to be closer to her grandson, Henry, and worked as a nurse supervisor for Watsonville Hospital and Kaiser Permanente. Grandma Judy loved going to her grandson’s extracurricular activities. In retirement, Judy loved spending time her dog, Giggles, regular visits with family and friends, reading, and playing card games.

She was known to many for her welcoming attitude and beautiful smile, and was colorful and stylish, with a personality to match. She loved conversation, and was helpful at easing life's challenges with humor and love. Judy kept in touch with many of her dear friends from all phases of life, and she also loved to meet new people. She never hesitated to tell her friends, “I love you!”

Judy is preceded in death by her mother and father, Emily and Robert Collins, and former husbands, Jim Vestal and Dr. Harold Lowe. She is survived by her son, Jason Vestal, her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Jack Wiley, grandson Henry Wiley, nieces, Kim Vestal Bowers and Victoria Vestal Kupper, and their families, and former husband, Douglas White.

In lieu of flowers, donations gladly accepted at Peace of Mind Dog Rescue at 615 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.