Judith Mae Jurinjak

You are here to read a story, a story about a lady named Judy Mae Brannaman Jurinjak. She was born in the projects of Peoria, IL, to a mother already taking care of others (preceded into Glory by Joyce Bradshaw, Jerry Branaman, John Frederick Branaman, and James Branaman).

When she was born – April 25, 1944 – her father (John Cecil Branaman) was at war. He came back a broken man, unable to cope with what he saw and experienced. He never ‘came home’, and died later at the VA Hospital, and was buried in the VA cemetery Danville, IL.

Her mother (Lucille Hall Branaman) decided on her 14th birthday to share the party costs with a co-worker who had a son born on the same day. That son would have to wait 2 yrs for the first kiss, and then another few years for marriage (July 24, 1964 to Raymond Arnold Jurinjak – surviving spouse).

After Ray came home (all the way home) from serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict, they welcomed their only child into the world (Julie Marie Jurinjak Hoskins – surviving daughter). They wanted to have football team as children, but Julie broke the mold and ended up an only child.

Judy went on to serve as clerk at State Farm, and worked hard to fit in enough time taking care of Ray and Julie to get her Bachelor in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University, Normal, IL. She went on to create and teach at the new Calvary Baptist Academy started by their church (Calvary Baptist Church, Normal, IL).

She was a very gifted and giving quilter, and either joined or started quilting guilds everywhere they lived (Normal, IL, Branson, MO, and Boiling Springs, SC). Most of the quilts she made were gifted to the sick, the newborn, or to family members for Christmas or special birthdays.

Judy also found ways to volunteer at community enrichment organizations, the latest being part of the food gathering team for the food pantry at the Upstate Family Resource Center, Boiling Springs. SC.

Her daughter (Julie Marie Jurnijak Hoskins - surviving) married Dwayne Allen Hoskins, DC ACP (surviving) who gifted her with a grandson to spoil and train and pour her life into (Brandon Michael Hoskins – Air Force – surviving). They also ended up adopting 2 daughters that allowed her to also train and spoil and love (Alexandria Marie Hoskins – surviving with 3 children, Hosanna Hope Hoskins – surviving with 3 children).

When the Hoskins moved away, they ‘adopted’ a young family in their church to love on (Tim and Pattie Abney) and spoiled their daughter as if she was their own granddaughter (Michaela and Austin Kemp). She and Ray were always looking for young families to invest in and train up.

Judy loved to travel and could say with confidence she visited every US state, and most of Europe. She also was very very glad to have visited Israel and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. She wrote a Christmas story titled “Jesus’ Grandma” based upon that experience and her voluminous faith context.

She passed away quietly, doing what she loved the best – making everyone (including Jesus) wait on her. Finally, at 2:50 am on 10/25 of 2025 (their half-birthday) she said “love you” after waking for a moment and slipped into eternity to be with her Lord and Savior.

We can only imagine her up there arguing with Martha on where the spoons SHOULD go, and if the glasses were clean enough to be put in the dishwasher to sterilize. It also gives us a smile thinking of her sitting with Jesus’ grandma and telling stories about their grandsons.

The date for a Celebration of Life gathering will soon be announced.