Judith Ann Vaughan

We, the family of Judith Ann “Judy” Vaughan, are heartbroken to say that our beloved Judy of Sterling, Virginia, passed away on August 27th, 2025. She was 78.

Judy was born in 1947 in Akron, Ohio, to James and Betty Leas. She grew up in nearby Cuyahoga Falls, where she met and went to school with her soon-to-be husband, Mark Vaughan. Mark was drafted into the Army in 1967 and they married soon after.

Judy stayed in Ohio while Mark was sent to Korea and Vietnam. Next, he was deployed to Germany. She moved there to be with him where they had a cute little apartment and a VW Bug. They were able to travel throughout Europe while Mark was stationed there.

When Mark’s military service ended in 1969, they came back home to Ohio. Through the years, they lived in many cities across the country as Mark was transferred a lot during his career in retail management.

In 1972, they were blessed with their daughter, Kristen, who would go on to become a devoted wife, mother, niece, cousin, and talented artist.

Years later, Judy began working for Traveler’s Insurance. She went on to become the first person in the company without a college degree to be promoted and trained as a commercial underwriter. (That’s how smart and hardworking she was!) While at Traveler’s, she developed a long and treasured friendship with her coworker, Maureen Murphy.

In the year 2000, after many moves, Sterling, Virginia, became their forever home.

Judy loved her grandchildren. Her first, Brooklyn, was born in 1994. Judy cherished every moment spent with Brooklyn. She enjoyed watching her grow into an amazing woman who achieves every goal that she sets for herself, which includes becoming a successful lawyer.

Her second, Johnny, was born in 2006. Judy made frequent trips to Connecticut following his birth. Later, Johnny would visit his ‘Marmar and Papa’ in Virginia, where he would build elaborate plumbing pipe projects in their kitchen. Johnny is 19 now and exploring job opportunities that his Marmar would love.

In between her many visits with family, especially her grandchildren, Judy took frequent vacations to do one thing: go on cruises. She loved the ocean and enjoyed spending countless days sitting outside on her cabins’ balconies while reading and listening to the waves. Her first trips were with sisters Janet and Billie. On later cruises, her traveling companions included her friend, Maureen, and other family members, including her mother, late sister Bonnie, and, of course, Mark.

From 1992 to 2017, Judy cruised 43 times, throughout the Caribbean, to Bermuda, Iceland, Alaska, and more. She and Mark even did the “crossing” from New York to England, three times! She was always planning her next cruise before the current one had ended. Cruising was the fun of a lifetime for her, as it was for many of us.

Judy was fortunate to live close enough to Mark’s aunt, DeDe, who became her dearest friend. They spent many hours together wining, dining, and laughing (as well as cruising!).

After Judy and Mark retired, they split their time between Virginia and their newly discovered second home, a little place on the water in Tarpon Springs, Florida. They loved it there, especially since Mark’s late brother, Craig, lived nearby. Not long after Craig passed in 2019, Judy and Mark left Florida and made Sterling their yearlong home where they enjoyed mostly quiet days together, except for the barking.

The incessant barking came from the last little blessings of their lives, their rescue pups, Annie and Teddy. When they weren’t barking at neighbors or the Amazon delivery guy, Annie was always on Judy’s lap, while Teddy was, and still is, Mark’s best buddy. Annie is still watching and waiting for Judy to come home, which is so sad to see.

Those dogs were the center of Judy’s world in the last few years. Everyone knew not to call at 4:00 p.m. because that was the revered ‘snack time.’ She’d stand at the counter and mix the seven-ingredient concoction with them barking the entire time.

Especially in her later years, Judy enjoyed frequent visits with her neighbor and best friend, Peg. Judy was always grateful to have such great neighbors such as Peg and her husband, Wade; Judy, who would pop in, and her husband, Gary; and Fred, who was always there to help with things outside.

Over the years, Judy loved to cook, bake, and garden. She was very specific about where her flowers were to be planted, using a ruler to be sure that they were spaced evenly apart. (We’d laugh about that.) More recently, her pleasure came mostly from being content sitting at home on her Kindle with Mark nearby; frequently talking on the phone with Janet and Kristen; playing Words with Friends every day with Billie; and hanging out with her ‘friends’ on MSNBC. Regardless of what was really going on, she always said, "We’re fine.”

In the end, a routine surgery led to many days of complications, and she never made it home from the hospital. Her spirit fought to the end, yet when her body could take no more, she passed away, peacefully. She’s the best kind of fine now… eternally fine.

We extend our deepest thanks to her caregivers at Inova Loudoun Hospital, in Leesburg, Virginia, especially those in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. We knew that she was always in good hands there, especially when we couldn’t be by her side.

Judy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Mark Vaughan; daughter, Kristen Chapdelaine and her husband, John, whom she considered to be the son she never had; granddaughter, Brooklyn Campagna; grandson, Johnny Chapdelaine; sisters, Janet Swinehart and Billie Leas; nephews, Jim Ballard, Adam Lipari, and Nicholas Lipari; and many dear cousins, good neighbors, and cherished pups, Annie and Teddy.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, James Leas and Betty Wrayno; stepfather, Joseph Wrayno; sister, Bonnie Ballard; aunt, Mary (DeDe) Chenoweth; niece, Jaclyn Ballard; brothers-in-law, Craig Vaughan, Jim Lipari, and Michael Swinehart; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Cremation has taken place. Per Judy’s wishes, there will be no services. Memorial donations may be made to an animal rescue organization of your choice.