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 3 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 at Shawsheen Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held at Westgate Church in Weston on June
6 th at 11:00. Another celebration of life will be held in California at Orchard Community Church on September
19 th at 11:00. In lieu of flowers please send donations to: John’s home church https://orchardventura.org/ or
the non-profit Debbie works for https://hosp.org/