I, Judith A. Carey, 72, entered peaceful into sleep on May 15, 2026, surrounded by my loving family in hope of the resurrection as promised by God to paradise on earth.  Who knows if I was good enough to make it. I tried.

     I was born in Utica on August 4,1953, the daughter of Helen Szczerba Carey and Kay Carey. I graduated from JFK High School in 1972. I started and ended my insurance career with Utica National Insurance where I made lifelong friends, Deb Newton, Mary Paul, Kathy Tripepi, and Deb Heitz. I loved to travel and took numerous trips to Ireland, cruises, and listening to The Elders, a Celtic group from Missouri. I spent time doing things that brought pleasure to my life. Scrapbooking, camping, listening to Irish music, cruising, snorkeling, swimming with the dolphins, watching NASCAR and my favorite team, “Smoke” Tony Stewart and Ryan “Rocket” Newman, and our Carey and Szczerba Family Reunions.

My companion pets that have always been there for me especially my times of doom and gloom. Gidget and Robbie were the very best. They gave me something to wake up for every morning.

     I am survived by my sisters: Patty (Paul) Steves, Rose (Hal) Barwick, Marie (Layne) Urbas and my brother Ken (Dorothy) Carey;  Nieces and nephews: Kelly (Tom) Cardea, Kris (Julie) Carey, Paul (Colette) Steves, Melissa (Joe) Pfaltzgraff, David Steves, Shane (Anna) Urbas, Eric Urbas, Kyle and Jacob Barwick; Great nieces and nephews: Amelia & Mike, Donald & Brittney, Evan & Emily, Paul T, Chris & Adelle, Zachary, Matthew, Adelyn, Emmalin, Finn, Evan, Dylan, and Casey and a Great great nephew: Kaiden Steves. Also surviving are special friends: Peggy and Bob Labuz and family, Melanie Piechowicz and Nancy Hernandez.  I was predeceased by my parents, sisters: Kathleen and Joan, brothers Thomas and Daniel Carey. Niece and nephew: Sue Force and Steven Ozog.  Cousin Sandi Tomasi, sister-in-law Shirley Carey and a dear friend Johny Phillips.

     “Til we meet again”

     Donations can be made to the Rome Humane Society, 6247 Lamphear Rd. Rome, NY 13440 in my name or your favorite charity.

     Visitation for family and friends is Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Rd., North Utica. A service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the conclusion of visitation. Judith will be laid to rest in Crown Hill memorial Park in Kirkland, New York.