Judith Anne Hacia Obituary

Judith Anne (Smith) Hacia, age 80, died peacefully in her home on December 21, 2022, from natural causes. Judy is survived by her son Joe Jr. (Donna), daughter Heidi (Paul), and grandchildren Christopher Hacia, Brandon Hacia, Hannah Roberts (Shaun), Maggie Kinchen (Jonathan), Abbie, and Sadie. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Hacia Sr., daughter Missey, daughter Kathy, and sister Rhoda Spencer. Judy was born on March 10, 1942, in Concord, Massachusetts. She grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in a loving home with her mom (Alice Margaret Stow), dad (Ralph Bower Smith), and two sisters, Rhoda and Betty Mae.

Upon her dad's passing when she was only 15, "the girls" remained in their Wethersfield home with their mom until moving on into adult life. Judy graduated from Wethersfield High School. Following high school, she attended the University of Connecticut and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. She became a teacher and married the love of her life, Joe (Joseph E. Hacia Sr.), on July 29, 1967. She immediately became an Army wife and mom to three beautiful children Kathy, Missey, and Joe Jr. In 1971, Judy gave birth to a daughter, Heidi.

Joe and Judy were married for 37 years, with most of their years together spent in Brandon, Florida. She was actively involved in her church New Hope First United Methodist Church. Judy was a first-grade teacher at Seffner Elementary School for 28 years, where she developed lifelong friendships and significantly impacted many students who still remember her today. She received the Teacher of the Year award for the 1996 – 1997 school year. After her retirement in 2007, she remained active at the school as a volunteer for several years and then became a tutor at Kumon until her passing.

Judy loved cheering for her favorite sports teams on TV, attending community theatre productions, music (especially piano!), her church, and most of all, her friends and family. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren. She had weekly lunch dates with friends, was constantly on the phone calling everyone she loved, and truly had a ministry of note-writing. Her bright smile, contagious laugh, and caring ways will be dearly missed by so many. Services will be held on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:00 am at New Hope Church, 213 North Knights Avenue, Brandon, FL 33510, with a reception immediately following provided by the church in the fellowship hall.

Graveside service 2:00 pm Bushnell National Cemetery 6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, FL 33513. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to her church New Hope, First United Methodist Church, or Happy Valley Kennel, 321 Happy Valley Road, Bell Buckle, TN 37020. Please indicate donations in memory of Judy Hacia.