Judith Belle Lessnick

February 16, 1944 — March 22, 2026

Judi Belle Lessnick (née Lerner), 82, passed away peacefully, March 22, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. Although she will be dearly missed, we are comforted in believing she has returned to the side of her late husband and lifelong love, Ron. Before she passed, she rehearsed her greeting for him: “Hey there, big guy.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Max and Sarah Lerner (née Singer), Judi (Hebrew name: Shana Zelda) was a big sister to the late Ilene Sandy Lerner. Judi grew up on a family farm where she kept a pet monkey named Penny, who gave her many stories to tell later in life. During a summer trip to the Catskills, she met the love of her life, Ron Lessnick (Hebrew name: Moshe), and they spent the rest of their lives together.

Judi and Ron settled in Marlboro and then Matawan, where they raised their family, before spending nearly thirty years in Bedminster. They made Aliyah to Israel, living in Netanya for four years before returning to Bridgewater in 2018.

Early in life, Judi showed her get it done spirit when she walked into the Grumman Aircraft hiring center, saw a clerk overwhelmed by ringing phones, and simply jumped behind the counter to start processing applications herself. She was hired on the spot. As one of the few women in a facility of 60,000, she worked at the heart of the Space Age, supporting mock-ups for the Lunar Excursion Module and the OAO. She worked to support herself and Ron as he went through college.

She later applied that same savvy and initiative to the stained-glass business she shared with Ron, Stained Sun Studios. A natural salesperson, she once secured a massive order of 300 pieces for New York stores, cleverly telling the clients they’d have to wait behind their other ‘big orders’ while she and Ron worked side-by-side to fulfill them.

Judi was a pioneer who crossed lines before it was popular to do so. In the 1970s, she insisted on being recognized as a person rather than a gender, securing credit cards as J.B. Lessnick. After starting as a secretary at a lumber yard, she rose to manage forty men in the lumber industry before becoming the first woman road salesperson for her company.

She had a refined eye for beauty and a gift for creating a home that felt both perfectly in place and incredibly cute, much like herself. Judi brought a sense of style and creativity to everything she touched. Whether she was painting, taking photos that filled the family albums, or being pulled up the mast of the family sailboat to unfurl the sails, she did it all stoically and fearlessly.

While Ron was the behind-the-scenes "gadget man," Judi was the confident, outgoing go-getter with a gift of gab. Her natural ability to connect with others followed her wherever she went; during her years in Israel, she surprised everyone including herself by navigating a Hebrew conversation using the Yiddish from her grandparents. She was a self-described social butterfly, who loved sharing thoughtful gifts. Anyone who ever received one of her carefully crafted Shabbat Shalom messages knows how Judi worked to maintain her relationships even across long distances. Her hours spent selecting pictures and emojis showed us every week how much she cared.

Judi was a proud goody-two-shoes, yet she was never afraid to fight for a good cause. She was the president of her neighborhood board and worked hard to protect her community even during Hurricane Sandy, when the power was out for more than a week. She stood up for her children’s friends when they were sent to the principal’s office and needed a fierce advocate. She always knew exactly how to use her voice to make a difference.

Judi’s heart belonged to her family and her animals. Throughout her life, she was a devoted mom not only to Stephen and Stephanie, but to the many animals she loved: Malted Milk, Demi Tass, Coco, Tiffany, Cassie, Picasso, and finally Dylan, who remained by her side during her journey to Israel

Judi is survived by her son, Stephen Lessnick, who she was so proud of, and his wife, Michelle, her loving daughter, Stephanie Lerner, and her cherished grandchildren: Jaden and his fiancée, Julia, Blue, Micah, Mason and his girlfriend, Jordan, and Kira and her new husband, Aryeh. She will be deeply missed by her extended family and friends, in New Jersey, Israel, and all around the world.

Judi lived a long, proud life. She leaves behind a legacy of independence, kindness, and the reminder that if the line is too long, you should probably just jump behind the counter and help.

Zichrona Livracha—May her memory be a blessing.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 2:45PM at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652.

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