Judy T. Sorensen passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, in Huntley.
She was born on July 16, 1928, in Japan to Ichinosuke and Pome (Fujino) Takemura. Judy’s life was marked by quiet strength, devotion to family, and kindness to all who knew her.
While living in Japan, Judy met Raymond Sorensen during his military service there. Their relationship began simply, sharing frequent lunches together, and grew deeper over time. When Raymond was shipped to Korea, Judy faithfully wrote to him and often sent care packages, maintaining their connection across the distance. After knowing one another for four years, they were married at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Judy and Ray then returned to the United States together, beginning a life built on love, patience, and partnership. They recently celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary, a testament to their enduring bond.
Judy and Ray made their home in Elgin, where they raised their daughter, Melinda. Though she built her life in the United States, Judy remained deeply connected to her roots and was especially proud to return to Japan for her 60th class reunion.
In her quieter moments, Judy enjoyed finding Japanese television shows to watch on Sundays and spending time playing mahjong, activities that brought her comfort and joy. Above all, she was known for her caring and selfless nature. Judy was genuinely kind, treating everyone she met with warmth, respect, and grace.
She will be deeply missed by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., with a service at 2:30 p.m., all at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley.
For further information, please contact the funeral home at 847-515-8772. Online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com.
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
Ray and Melinda, we are so sorry for your loss. Judy was a lovely, kind person who will be deeply missed. (We are former members of St. John’s. We live in Mississippi now. I was the church secretary prior to retiring, and also I was in Melinda’s confirmation class.)