Judith Diperna

Judith DiPerna, 72, of Brackenridge, died on Friday morning, February 12, 2016.
Judith was born and raised in Brackenridge, best known locally as the owner, proprietor and expansive story-teller of Judys Town News, a convenience store and meeting place a few paces from Allegheny Ludlums No. 2 Gate.
At the age of 42, Judith charged headlong into a new phase of life when she enrolled at Chatham College, where she earned her undergraduate degree. Thereafter, she obtained her M.S. Ed from Duquesne University and went to work in Pittsburgh as a clinical therapist.
An advocate and friend to marginalized populations, she went to work for Persad Center, a non-profit servicing the gay, lesbian and transgendered community. Born with a seemingly infinite reserve of compassion, she also facilitated the AIDS-HIV support group through the Shepherd Wellness Community for many years.
A life-long lover of the performing arts, Judith spent her last years working as a house manager for City Theatre in Pittsburghs South Side, as she continued counseling many transgendered clients in her private practice.
She is predeceased by her brothers, Victor and Brendan DiPerna, her parents, Anthony and Vera DiPerna, her cherished grandmother, Maria Petracco, and her niece, Dana DiPerna Pillsbury.
She leaves behind her daughter Jody DiPerna and her wife, Linda Dukess, her beloved niece Amy DiPerna Sutton, and her husband Charles, her brother Dennis DiPerna and his wife Kim, her loving cousins, Cynthia Adams, Lydia Petracco, Linda and Bob Buchko, Peter and Randi Petracco, and too many friends to count.
Friends will be received on Saturday from 4-6 PM and on Sunday from 1-4 PM in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle Street, Natrona Heights, where a blessing service will be held on Monday at 10 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 AM in St. Ladislaus Church, Natrona with her pastor the Rev. James Mazurek as celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights.
In lieu of flowers, it was Judiths wish that donations be made to the National Center for Transgender Equality (www.transequality.org)