Judy Callen, 84, of Moline, Illinois, passed away Sunday, February 15, 2026, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish – St. Ambrose Campus, Milan, Illinois. Burial will follow at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Iowa City Ronald McDonald House, QC Paws, or your favorite charity.

Judith Ann Nelson was born on November 16, 1941, in Moline, Illinois, to Robert Lee Nelson and Betty J. Dean-Callahan. She was raised in Rock Island by her mother and her beloved grandmother, Lila B. Jeffery-Dean, whose love and guidance shaped the strong and compassionate woman she became.

On February 1, 1960, she married the love of her life, Harold E. Callen. Together they built a life grounded in devotion, laughter, and service to others. Harold preceded her in death on August 12, 2011.

Judy was educated in the Rock Island school system and graduated from Rock Island Hurley’s Beauty College. She began her professional life as a hairdresser, a career she enjoyed until 1978. With determination and a deep desire to serve others, she returned to school at Black Hawk College, earning both her LPN and ADN degrees. She later completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

While in nursing school, Judy worked at Friendship Manor when it first opened. She went on to serve at Franciscan Hospital, and later United Medical Center, until 1993. She then continued her calling as a public health nurse with the Rock Island County Health Department, where she faithfully served the community until her retirement.

Judy found joy in music, dancing, and laughter. She loved cooking, baking, and making candy for her husband and for anyone fortunate enough to receive her generous gifts. She enjoyed sewing, cross-stitching, crocheting, and jewelry making, and many of her handmade treasures were donated to charities or given to soldiers through the USO.

A lifelong learner, Judy deeply respected education and those who shared knowledge with others. She volunteered with the USO and UnityPoint Hospice, continuing her life of service even in retirement. She was a member of the NRA and a lifelong member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 1303.

Judy attended the original Hawthorne School, where she made her first friend outside of her cousins, a memory she cherished and often shared.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.wheelanpressly.com.