Judith Monica (Pongress) Larson

On Saturday, October 4th, 2025 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph reunited our mother (Judith Monica Pongress) with our father (John Charles Larson) in Heaven so they can spend eternity together. Our Mother and Father were married just shy of 59 years when our Dad was guided to Heaven on March 24th, 2025. We knew Mom was missing Dad and wanted to be with him again. Our Mom was a guiding light and pillar of the family for both Eric (Elizabeth McGonigle) and Todd (Catherine Raycroft), and an incredibly loving Grandma, affectionally known as MeMe, to Megan, Mary, Andrew, Karl, Michael, and all the other children who came into her life. Our Mom is survived by her older brother (Andrew) and preceded in death by her parents (Andrew and Julia Pongress) and her sister (Carol).

For nearly her 85-year life on this earth, Mom was many things, including a daughter, sister, wife, mother, Godmother, grandmother, and a friend to many. Mom’s crowning achievement and what she was most proud of was being a Mom and MeMe. Mom drove and supported Eric and Todd to be the best they could be in everything they did, whether it was school, sports or just being good, caring, and Christian human beings; and then did the same for all her grandchildren. Mom always prioritized family and was the heartbeat for so many wonderful family memories. The birthday parties she orchestrated for Eric and Todd, including appearances by Pick-Pockets the clown, are still talked about; as are the memorable family trips with the grandchildren to the Smokey Mountains, a Disney cruise, and an Alaska cruise.

Mom was proud to be a registered nurse working at the Jones Clinic in her early years. Then, after getting Eric and Todd on solid ground in their early years, entered back into the work force as a school nurse. Mom spent many years as a Head Start nurse in Hammond and then transitioned to being a school nurse at Columbia, Lafayette, and Irving elementary schools in Hammond, always keeping in touch with her close friends and coworkers over the years. MeMe was so very proud to have Megan follow in her nursing footsteps.

Anyone who knew our Mom, knew she wanted everything clean and was a great delegator of those tasks as well. Uncle Joe Vozar, may he rest in peace, called Mom the Q-tip lady which we can all relate to. We are pretty sure Dad knew when Mom got to Heaven because he could hear the all-familiar J-O-H-NNNNNN! We are pretty sure Mom has made sure everything in Heaven is cleaned by now, the floors are scrubbed, the walls are vacuumed, and the countertops dusted.

We love you, Mom…you are already greatly missed!

Our family invites all who called our Mom a family member and a friend to celebrate her life with us on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM followed by Holy Mass at 10:00AM at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church (formerly Our Lady of Consolation Church) located at 8303 Taft St. in Merrillville, IN. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital as our Mom always advocated for the children (www.stjude.org).

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper - Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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