Obituary of Judy Helen Illa-Riley

Judy Illa-Riley passed away January 22, 2015. She battled lung cancer for more than two years. After losing her voice and then reclaiming it, she decided to move on. She went quietly at home, but in a screaming pink CodePink jersey. Her opinions were always clear. Judy is survived by her husband George, her son Bob Illa in Sacramento and his daughters Sawyer and Siena; also her siblings David in Loomis, Derrill in Angelus Oaks, and Ellaine in Temecula. All her family are native Californians. Judy was a sixth generation Californian, a very rare bird to begin with. She was born into the Quaschnick household in August, 1946, the youngest of four children. Her parents, Arlene and Deward, passed on several years earlier. She grew up on a grape farm in San Bernadino County, in Alta Loma, a small town later called Rancho Cucamonga, popularized in Jack Benny jokes. She completed Upland High School early, and graduated from UC Berkeley at age 20. Judy began a career in social work with the County of San Mateo. Later she got a masters in business, and moved up the ladder in budgeting and financial management with several departments in the county, retiring as financial manager for Environmental Health. Her knack for numbers led her to do taxes for her friends, and into real estate on the side. She married George Riley in 1985, who was Director of Housing and Community Services. Both retired in 1992, and moved to Monterey in 1997. In her own words: I first became interested in creating art after moving to the Monterey Peninsula in 1997. Living in this intensely beautiful area inspired me to begin drawing, painting, and creating ceramic art. My husband and I love to travel and together we record our trips in pen and ink drawings. Sitting side by side, we sketch our private interpretations of the scenes before us, which we then share, critique, and discuss. The study and exploration of art has been at the center of my life since retirement. I am an active member of several local artist organizations, including the Central Coast Art Association and the Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation. I (have displayed) my paintings and ceramics in the MPAF Gallery on Cannery Row. In my previous life, I earned a BA degree from UC Berkeley in 1967. I lived in the Bay Area and worked for the County of San Mateo until I retired in 1992. My husband, George, and I are celebrating 30 happy years together. Judy was uniquely talented with humor and no nonsense insight. When she ventured into painting and ceramic art, she tapped into her creative and self-expression gifts. Ceramic art was her passion. Her pride was in thinness and glazing. She was in the Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation gallery on Cannery Row for 10 years. Judy's ceramic pieces were big sellers, so her unique touch is spread widely. Light weight, beautiful glazes and creativity were her hallmarks. She won prizes regularly at the Monterey County Fair. She taught ceramics at the Monterey Senior Center for several years, and often encouraged others to help their community by volunteering. To be her friend was to join a small and rewarding circle. She was always true and honest. Her most precious love was for Bob, her son from her first marriage. Carving out the appropriate boundary between holding close and letting go was a longtime concern. Judy was part of the famous baby boom generation that reshaped much of America. She had her rebellious streak in the mid-1960s, which energized some and bothered others. Never one to completely break the mold, she did set personal principles that underpinned her life. She advocated being smart about fundamental aspects of life: money, nutrition, exercise, and an activity that required passion. She was enormously candid in private, and simply straightforward in public. She believed voting is essential, corporations have too much power, and that it is never too late to help in the community. She also wished her husband success in taking the local water company public. Her recommended slogan was "Buy Bye Cal Am". Her last outing in full bloom was an arts, community and political gathering in Seaside. Judy's creativity had many forms. She won the Monterey Herald's contest for a new title for its "hits and misses" column. Her suggested "Laurels and Hardlys" was used for several years. Her idea for new years resolutions was to pick a topic and write about it. How have I changed in the past 10 years?. What did I learn last year? Advice to a grandchild. What laws have you broken? Topics ranged from dying to doing to honesty to fantasy. Her resolutions were more hilarious than any gift at Christmas. She was a prolific reader and sketcher. She wrote poetry, but never shared her work. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice, but this too was personal and limited to car travel time. Judy was always her own person, and never felt the need to do things in an ordinary way. She had a genuine appreciation of well crafted and presented art. And her wonderful smile would brighten any group. Her greatest fear during large doses of the pain killer Oxycontin was that she would begin to sound like Rush Limbaugh. During certain travels, she felt she should dress down, like she should dress for a robbery. A very special person, she was loved deeply and will be missed. But her art lives on. Deep gratitude to many who helped her at home in the last few weeks, especially Annemarie, Mishka, Carole, Melva, and Hope. Deep personal gratitude is also extended to Stanford Oncology (particularly Heather and Alison), CHOMP Oncology and Hospice (all but especially Shannon). A memorial service will be held in the afternoon on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel, CA. In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to Judy's preferred charity, Friends of Homeless Women, Community Foundation of Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey CA 93940.