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the pair became inseparable

Judith “Judy” Ann (Kott) Ross, age 87 of Manistee, passed away at Munson Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.

Judy was born on December 30, 1938 in Manistee, Michigan, the daughter of the late Eugene T. and Eleanore M. (Heuck) Kott. She was a graduate of Manistee High School, the Class of 1957. After high school, Judy spent some time away from Manistee while growing her family but returned to the area a few years later and would remain in Manistee for the rest of her life.

As fate would have it, she soon crossed paths with Theodore “Ted” Ross of Manistee upon her return to town, and the pair became inseparable. On April 16, 1971, Judy married Ted, the love of her life. They were married nearly 53 years until Ted’s passing in 2024. The pair owned and operated Ross Refrigeration in Manistee for almost four decades where they sold and serviced appliances. They also enjoyed dancing, playing golf together, and loved to travel, spending many winters in Arizona. Judy was a member of both the Manistee Lions Club and the Manistee Hospital Auxiliary for many years where she and Ted worked on lots of events, side by side.

Judy loved her family very deeply. She enjoyed spending time with her daughter and all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From sports games to holiday concerts, she rarely missed any of their sporting or school events. Judy also was a wonderful baker who the family always counted on to bring delicious desserts to gatherings – all of them happy to be taste-testers for any new recipe she tried.

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Judy loved her family very deeply

Judy is survived by her daughter Julie Swidorski; her grandchildren Matt (Lindsey) Swidorski, Megan (Dylan) Savela, and Mason (Briann) Swidorski; her great-grandchildren, Talon and Bowen Swidorski, River and Violet Savela, and Kason and Blakely Swidorski; She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in law Blair and Carol Ross, along with nieces and nephews.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband Theodore “Ted” Ross; her son Jeffery Russell; her parents Eugene and Eleanore Kott; her brother Roland Kott; and her son-in-law Paul Swidorski.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee with Rev. Polycarp Mblarawa. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday morning, one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery also in Manistee.

Those wishing to remember Judy are asked to consider a donation in her name to the Manistee Lions Club.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.