Penny A. Hudek

Penny Hudek nee Irwin, 78 gained her well deserved Angel wings on June 10th, 2022. Penny was the beloved widow of Donald J Hudek (2013) her husband of 44 years. Penny was the proud and dedicated mother to Michael John (Jennifer) and Carrie Ann Hudek-Chiuso (2008). Penny was the loving and easy going, anything goes at Nana’s home grandma to Madison Grace, Carrie Jeanette, Rylin Michael and Zachary Stanley Donald Hudek. Penny was the forever caring and kind second mother and older sister to Patty Scott (2013) and younger sister, travel and politics debater with Judy Irwin LaKose. Penny was the fun pontoon riding Nellie and Newman loving cousin to Carla Mills. She is survived by her Aunt Bev, sister in law and friend Sylvia Walter, sister and brother in law Linda and Jim Hudek, brother in law Dave Scott and loving Aunt to Susie and David Glover, Katie and Jack Speranza, Deana and Greg Walter, Stacey and Casey Scott, Autumn and Gary Walter, JT and Monika LaKose, Leighann and Leo Ruffing, Stacey and Troy Gross, Nick Hudek, Tim and Whitney Hudek, and great nieces and nephews Samantha and Joe Glover, Emily, John and Tommy Walter, Hudson, Olive and Monroe Walter, Riley, Mattie, and Hailey Gross and Ella and Dakota Speranza. Penny leaves behind her side kick, one person forever loving and seriously spoiled Newman “Newmie” Hudek. Penny was born in 1944 as the second of three daughters to Jeanette and Thomas Irwin. She was a college graduate of Southern Illinois University where she studied Special Education. After being in the education system for several years she chose to be a homemaker and assistant whenever her husband Don needed anything from cleaning out the bins at Del Mar Cleaners to helping him go from a dry cleaning business to Del Mar Builders a Construction Company over forty plus years in business. Penny was the MOM of MOMS… she lived for her two children and NEVER missed a moment of their lives. From school events, graduations, moving in and out of apartments and fraternity houses.. she was there. The constant on the go mom that lived in her station wagon and then her full size conversion van filled with golf clubs, sports bags, box fans, and everything in between, running from up North Wisconsin, to Michigan and Florida and all states in between for golf outings and college visits and clinics. Penny would make any holiday, special day, birthday, wedding, a CELEBRATION!!! Penny loved to dance, loved to cherish the moments, and she LOVED walking down Main Street USA with a Turkey leg as big as her arm… she loved watching WISHES from the deck of California Grill, Door County, cherry pies, and Diet Coke, she loved walking through Osborne lights at Christmas, and Walnut Room for the chicken pot pie and poinsettia.. the MAGIC of Disney, an ice cold Corona on a hot day, a cocktail date on the phone, FOX news, a good book, a Guinness beer but only in Ireland or on St Patrick’s Day, she loved Halloween and having parties, Easter and hiding eggs with money (just to watch us al go nuts), crafts at Christmas and Mr. and Mrs.Left and Right to pass gifts, White Elephant, win lose or draw, Michael Jordan and watching every pendent being hung in the stadium, she wrote lists and notes about everything, the BEST ever upside down pineapple cake came from her… Disney glass and art adorned her home and the magic of the mouse in her heart… a great bag, a rock in the chair, listening to the water at her Snow White cottage, s’mores in the summer, and fixing everything with electrical tape and zip ties, she was strong, funny, shy but opinionated, she never hesitated to tell you all she knew about wars, current events and what she thought this country needed…. She never needed fancy… a Diet Coke and a cheeseburger from McDonalds was her go to…or Lake perch from Mr.Benny's with a grasshopper to close out the night. She loved her family, this country and Disney. She could smile and light up the room, but when she was sad she wouldn’t show it… she instilled in her children… to love hard, work hard, be honest, be your best and to know that no matter what she was always there. Penny was MEANT to be a Mother, a grandmother and lived for her family. Her son and daughter were the absolute loves of her life and her purpose. She built her dream life with her husband and they loved the life they built. Penny loved giving the kids HUGE bubble baths when little , and let them fill the kitchen sink with anything they thought was fun to play with, walks to the “Secret garden”, and scratches before bed at the cottage. Penny never cared about the mess, the laundry it the work the kids caused to her it was childhood and fun and the way it should be. Penny was a fighter and with great heart ache from the loss of her mother at a young age and then in adulthood losing her only daughter, her younger sister and then her husband all within 6 years. She relied heavily on her only son, they had a bond that can’t be unbroken even in death…they stuck together and maintained the core of their family that remained with just them with 3-4 calls daily back and forth just to check in… say hello, talk about everything and nothing… just to hear one another’s voices. They took several mother and son trips and spent time on the lake, at Disney, New Orleans, family holidays and trips to Disney, cruises, dinners out and many milestones along the way.. they made more memories and brought more happiness to their hearts … but the heart never heals with such great loss. The love, between mother and son is unbreakable and her son without his mother, father and sister is broken, now he relies on his own family and extended loved ones to keep the memories and the love going. Everyone is born into this World with a purpose… Penny’s purpose was FAMILY. She loved harder, and fought harder, and gave all she could for all those she loved… never was there a mother that gave more to her children and grandchildren … we will see you in the sunrise over Maple Lake, we will hear you at Christmas when Sleigh Ride plays, and again on the 4th of July when fireworks light up the sky, walking towards the castle, and anytime an American flag waves in the wind… in rainbows and cardinals and in the eyes of your grandchildren and your son. Your heart grew heavy, your legs grew weak.. rest in heaven, rest in love. The family you created will live on in love.