Date of Death: July 14, 2026
Service Details
Her family will receive friends Tuesday, July 28, 2026 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Derl Keefer officiating. She will be laid to rest in Poe’s Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
Judy Ann Rifenberg, 81, of Three Rivers, passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born February 9, 1945 in Detroit, the daughter of Frederick and Gwendolyn (Morgan) Stafford.
Growing up in Berkley, Mich., the oldest of four siblings, Judy was known as “The Boss.” She loved playing in her neighborhood and playing baseball. She was proud of being a Girl Scout and of being one of the only girls on the debate team. And she enjoyed spending summers with her Grandpa and Grandma Tucker, parents of her birth father Robert Tucker, who lost his life in World War II.
While attending Albion College, she met Gary Rifenberg, who would become her husband and best friend. Despite the relationship getting off to a rocky start when he called her the wrong name on their first date, he soon asked for five more dates and they exchanged marriage vows on June 24, 1967. Together they enjoyed entertaining friends, playing bridge, and dining out in Three Rivers and Kalamazoo. The couple also enjoyed reading and traveling, with Captiva Island, Fla. a favorite destination. They regularly returned to their alma mater, Albion College, for class reunions, and Judy served on its alumni board.
Shortly after their marriage, Judy went to the University of Michigan Speech Lab, where she studied to be a speech therapist working one-on-one with stroke victims who suffered from aphasia. She worked successfully in this field for seven years in addition to being a stay-at-home mom to daughters Joy and Jill. Then, when her mother-in-law Peggy Rifenberg passed in 1984, she became the bookkeeper for Gary’s company, Rifenberg Insurance. She enjoyed having a pulse on what was going on in the business, and it helped establish her in the Three Rivers community.
Faith played a tremendous role in her life, and she was actively involved in the First United Methodist Church. As a Sunday School teacher along with Anne Rohrer and a youth group leader along with Gary, she gave young people guidance in life. As a member of the United Methodist Women, she organized the annual Swiss Steak harvest dinner. As a crafter, she and Mary Kay Todd made popular Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals for the church fair.
Judy was the Coupon Queen, always finding ways to earn refunds and rebates, and did well enough to surprise her daughters with $1,000 each. She also enjoyed bowling – founding a team called “The Premiums” – as well as playing mah-jongg and bridge.
But most of all, she loved her family. As a mother, she was a member of the Hoppin PTO and could frequently be found at her daughters’ band and sporting events. Later, she became an incredible grandma, holding “Camp Fudge” for her grandchildren each year. Most recently, she became “Babka” to a great-granddaughter.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her daughters, Joy (Jason) Scott and Jill (Chris) Katsaros; grandchildren, Jacob (Emma) Scott, Darby Scott, Taylor Katsaros (Matt) Roberts, and Nicklas Katsaros; great-granddaughter, Abigail Ann Roberts; brother, Randy (Maggie) Stafford; sister, Denise (Bill) Zeidler; sister-in-law, Shirley (Carl) Featherstone; nieces and nephews; adoring Shih-tzu, Benji.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gary Rifenberg, on Dec. 3, 2025; and sister and brother-in-law, Barb and Bob Thomas.
Additional Information
Donations in Judy’s memory may be directed to the Three Rivers Band Boosters. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
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I am deeply saddened to hear of Judy’s passing. She was truly one of a kind and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Many of us remember that when the phone rang on Armitage Street, Judy meant business, and it was time for all of us kids to head home. She also had her daily route through the neighborhood, and I can still picture her driving by, honking and waving whenever she saw me outside.
I want you all to know that my life would not be what it is today without both Judy and Gary Rifenberg. In my younger years, before I became a mother, our families attended the same church. Judy and Gary were Sunday school teachers, and they helped lay the foundation of my faith by teaching me God’s Word.
Later in life, I had the privilege of renting from them though I say “renting” lightly, because it became so much more than that. As I was learning how to be an adult, Gary and Judy shared countless life lessons with me. From teaching me how to budget my money to showing me simple but important things like changing a furnace filter, they were always willing to help and guide me.
I was also fortunate enough to enjoy some of that famous Christmas candy that your family worked so hard to make every year. And I can honestly say, it was the very best fudge around.
Judy’s kindness, wisdom, and caring spirit touched so many lives, including mine. I will always be grateful for the love, guidance, and generosity that she and Gary showed me throughout the years.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. May your many wonderful memories of Judy bring you comfort and peace in the days ahead.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Nichole Kirchner
I’m so so sorry your loss, I’m prayers and keeping you in my thoughts.
She was a beautiful person , I always enjoyed seeing her and talking to her when she came in to the cleaners, I will truly miss her and your dad they were the kindest couple ever! RIP Miss Judy
To judys family, so sad she was a.good.friend a sweetheart of a person rest in peace judy
Our condolences are with the family! So sorry Judy had to leave us, but now with Gary. No suffering just happiness. I spent many years at church helping Judy with the Swiss Steak Dinners. She was willing to help anywhere she could when it came to the UMW. She was an amazing woman. She will be missed!
Joy and Jill, Your parents were a big part of the Bales girls teenage years and beyond. The babysitting jobs for you girls, their support and guidance as we were young marrieds. And in retrospect they really were not that much older than we were. The entire Bales Family have a lot of affection and respect for your parents. So sorry to hear that you have lost them both. Theresa Bales Flager
All the memories of the past 50 plus years.have me overwhelmed. Those staying up all night finishing up the last of the items to be sold at the church bazaar , driving long distances just to find a bargain in fabric, making sure the harvest dinners were just right, and even playing dingdong ditch a couple of times when we were delivering care packages. Most recently she insisted I learn to play Mahjong. I wasn’t a fast learner, but she stuck by me until I was ready for my Mahjong debut. My dear friend, you will be missed. My heart is broken.
I’m so sorry to hear the news of Judy’s passing. Regrettably I will not be able to attend the visitation or service on the 28th, but my thoughts and prayers are with Joy, Jill, the grandkids and the rest of the family. I know this has been a hard year saying goodbye to loved ones, but hopefully there is comfort in knowing Judy and Gary are once again together. With sincere regards.
We have so many good memories with Judy! Of course the couponing days, attending those Swiss steak dinners and the stuffed Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore who found their way home to our boys. Judy’s dining room table would be full of fabric to cut out more stuffed Pooh bears! Days at the pool, evening discussions in Dobrowolski’s screen house, kids playing school on your porch and some epic Christmas shopping trips all were part of those memorable Elm Street days. You took such good care of your Mom in the last days and you set a good example for everyone around you. We will all miss her, but will value the positive influence that she had in our lives and the wonderful memories we made. Much love,
Steve & Rosie
Judy and Gary Rifenberg were my parents’ best friends. My mom and Gary were foodies who spent hours (years) cooking together & preparing legendary meals- like their annual St Patrick’s Day Irish dinner- while my dad & Judy kept them company.
. I babysat Joy and Jill when they were little & was the one who weaned Jill off her bottle at 2 years old while Gary & Judy were on a trip to California. When Judy came home she wanted to know how I did it & where the bottle was. I wouldn’t tell her because I knew she’d give it back to Jill. We laughed about it for years. She was such a tender hearted mother. Judy was always kind and positive, and giving. She and my mom volunteered at church together. She was a force for good in this world and I know she will be so missed.
Love & condolences to Joy, Jill and their families.