Judith Genevieve Butler Pepper DeFusco passed away peacefully at home in Port Hueneme, CA on April 13, 2026 after succumbing to a 3-year progression of cognitive impairment. Judi was born on June 5, 1940 in Oak Park, Illinois to the delight of Samuel and Genevieve Butler and was the first of their three girls. Soon after they moved to Glendale CA. Judi “Joy” as her mother called her was an incredibly intelligent, vivacious, social and athletic student who among her many proud accomplishments was a majorette and even marched in the Rose Bowl Parade.

She briefly attended UCSB where she met and then married Tony Pepper. They had two children, Debbie and David and she enjoyed being an active homemaker and mother. Tony’s interesting career in broadcasting led them to relocate to Northern California, then Colorado and eventually Bedford, MA. The two of them enjoyed many social activities including playing tennis and skiing. Judi had a strong faith in God and had an uncanny knack for always finding the best churches to worship wherever she was and taught her children the importance of putting God first. She participated in many women’s groups and bible studies but she also loved to “raise the party flag” particularly with one of her best friends in Bedford.

When her husband left their marriage after 16 years, she was devastated but immediately enrolled in college to finish her degree at the University of Lowell and of course in typical fashion tried out for and made the Varsity Volleyball team even though she was just “a bit older” than most of the college students. From there she went on to get her MBA from Babson College and began working at MITRE Corporation. She focused her efforts on her job which required trips back and forth to Washington DC, played racquetball, tennis and was an active member of Grace Chapel.

In 1987, tragedy struck the family when her son David was killed in a car accident. Those who knew her remarked that she became an inspiration to others who had gone through similar struggles and grief, and was always a kind and caring person.

In 1988, a colleague at MITRE suggested a blind date with her brother and what started as an initial tennis match became a lifelong match with the true love of her life, John DeFusco. Throughout their almost 37 years together John and Judi were incredibly social, enjoyed church activities together, choir, vacations in Hawaii, dancing and competitive level tennis. They moved from Bedford to Orleans, MA and had many happy years there as members of Brewster Baptist and the Mid Cape Athletic club before moving to Port Hueneme, CA which they also enjoyed immensely thanks to the warmer weather, membership in Channel Islands Yacht Club, including their trivia team, a new church and being closer to extended family.

John took amazing care of Judi as she declined the last three years. Special thanks for the extra care she received at home from Mary Jane through Visiting Angels and Assisted Home, Health and Hospice.

Judi leaves behind her husband John DeFusco of Port Hueneme, CA, daughter Debbie Pepper and her husband Doug Leu of Milton, MA, sister Jane and husband Everett Culp of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, sister Susan and husband Steve Howell of Glendora, CA, and several cousins, nephews, and their children. 

A private burial will take place in Shawsheen Cemetery, Bedford. A celebration of Judi's life will be held at Westgate Church in Weston on June 6th at 11:00am. Family and friends are kindly invited. Another celebration of life will be held in California in September with a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers please send donations to: John’s home church https://orchardventura.org/ or the non-profit Debbie worked for https://hosp.org/