Judith "Judy" Diane (Roeper) Arias

Our beautiful Judith, “Judy”, Diane Arias (Roeper), 79, passed away peacefully in her home in Asheville, NC on August 5, 2025. 

Judy was born on November 2, 1945, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Charles and Addie Mae (Stanard) Roeper. She often shared cherished memories with her children about growing up in Ada, MI, alongside her beloved siblings Donald, Tom, and Mary Kay. Surrounded by extended family, Judy valued the closeness of being able to walk to her grandmother’s house for visits, a simple joy that deeply influenced her lifelong devotion to family.

After the loss of her parents, Judy was cared for by extended family. She was fond of her time with Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred, and later her niece, Kris, who she bonded with like a sister. 

She attended several schools, but especially relished her time at  T.L. Handy High School in Bay City, MI, because of the many classes, activities, and friends she made. 

After moving to Delton, MI, Judy met and fell in love with her first husband, George Ritchie. It was there she completed high school and welcomed her first three children into the world: George (Mike), Mark, and Wendy.

Later, Judy began a new chapter of life with her second husband, Fredy Arias. Together, they raised two daughters, Danielle and Christina. Judy treasured family time singing House of the Rising Sun, gathering for picnics, and traveling to Mexico, where she was embraced by even more loving family.

Above all, Judy absolutely loved being a mother. It was the core of who she was, and she would have moved heaven and earth to provide for her children. One Christmas, during a time when money was tight, she lovingly handcrafted decorations and created one of a kind gifts, each made with care and thoughtfulness, uniquely designed for every child. Her creativity, warmth, and devotion made even the simplest moments unforgettable.

She had a heart big enough to hold the world, making everyone feel loved, accepted, and truly seen. A beautiful example of this was how she welcomed Beth Cheney into the family and loved her like a daughter. 

Judy was a woman of many trades. During her lifetime, she worked on factory floors, waited tables, cared for the elderly and disabled, kept books for small businesses, assisted in managing a gas station, and even wrote poetry on consignment. She was a creative problem solver, quick witted, and brave in the face of adversity.

In her later years, Judy transitioned to grandmother and was smitten by all her grandchildren. She taught Caleb, her lil Buddy, how to go cruising, with sunglasses on, the windows down, and music up loud. After her beloved son Mark passed away, Judy embraced raising her granddaughter Tori, helping to provide stability and security for her after the loss. In 2010, she moved to Asheville, NC so that she could be closer to her youngest grandsons, Sequoyah and Lucien. She spent time caring for them, cooking special meals, playing dress-up, and making everyday moments feel full of love. Staying connected with her grandchildren as they grew brought her great happiness, no matter the distance or time. She remained deeply interested in their journeys and was endlessly proud of the people they were becoming and the families they themselves were growing as she became a great-grandmother. 

Judy's interests and hobbies were also diverse. She loved music, from rock and roll to opera. She enjoyed dancing which included teaching her daughters how to “kick it” to the Beastie Boys and integrating dance routines into cleaning the house. She had a beautiful voice and if you were lucky, she shared it with you. Additionally, she enjoyed fishing, “cruising the gut,” watching golf, crocheting and sewing, listening to audiobooks, and watching murder mysteries. In her later years, you would be hard pressed to find her without a Tootsie Pop or two, one for her and one for you. Most of all, she found great joy in visiting with those dear to her and truly being present in the moment.

Judy was predeceased by her first husband, George Ritchie, her sons, George & Mark Ritchie, grandson, Sequoyah Piland-Arias, parents, Charles P. & Addie Mae Roeper (Stanard), and siblings, Donald,  Thomas, and Mary Kay Roeper.

She is survived by her second husband, Fredy Arias, daughters, Wendy Brownell (Rod), Danielle Arias (Bert Ferrero), Christina Romero (David), grandchildren, Caleb Case (Keri), Tori Shade (Jeremy), Tyler Brownell, Kelsey Alkema (Rob), and Lucien Romero, great-grandchildren Brenden, Sean, Meryn, Jonah, Asher, Lillan, Evelyn,and Alivia, her niece, Kris Anderson, and the last remaining Golden Girl, her best friend, Miss Betty.  

Lastly, the family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the kind souls Judy met at Davita Arden, CarePartners-PACE, and Life House Apartments. Thanks to their care and support, Judy was able to live her final years with independence and surrounded by love from her community and neighbors. Even during difficult times, she found joy in riding the bus with her Golden Girls crew, sitting on the patio with neighbors, and living vicariously through all their beautiful stories.

A graveside service and reception will be held in Michigan at a date to be determined where Judy's ashes will be laid to rest with her son Mark Ritchie at her request. We ask all of Judy’s loved ones to join us in celebrating her beautiful life by loving others and God. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Meals on Wheels.

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