Penwell Turner Funeral Home - Shelby, Ohio

Judith Lee (Hetler) Korbas

Judith Lee (Hetler) Korbas, age 84, of Greenwood, Indiana, passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025 at the Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Judy was born on November 30, 1940 in Mansfield, Ohio to the late Leo and Elizabeth (Schramm) Hetler. Judy graduated in 1958 from St. Peter’s High School in Mansfield where she made life-long friends. She completed two years of her education degree at Ohio University before she started her teaching career.  She finished her bachelor’s degree at Ashland University and went on to receive her master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Judy’s passion was education. After retirement, she would tell everyone how much she loved being a teacher and how much she missed being around her students.  She was one of the original faculty for the opening of St. Mary School in Shelby for the 1969/1970 school year.  After leaving St. Mary’s, she moved to St. Bernard School in New Washington, initially as a classroom teacher.  She later became a reading specialist, focusing on improving reading skills.  Many remember their time spent with her in the Study Buddy during the regular school year and for the summer reading program.

Judy married Thomas Korbas on August 10, 1963 at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Mansfield. Judy and Tom traveled throughout the continental US and Canada with friends and family and expanded their travels after retirement to include Alaska, Hawaii and several Caribbean islands.  Judy also traveled to Europe with her friend, Pat.

Judy loved celebrating special life events with family and friends. Whether it was pig roasts in the backyard, birthday parties, baptism parties, first communion parties, confirmation parties, graduation parties, anniversary parties, or retirement parties, there always seemed to be something to celebrate, and she was happy to host. She enjoyed travelling to family reunions and to celebrate special occasions whether they were in Ohio, Indiana, Florida, South Carolina, or New Mexico.  She especially loved to celebrate birthdays and was always sending birthday cards to family and friends. The Christmas holidays were filled with sweet treats from Judy’s kitchen – cookies, kolache, cakes, and, of course, buckeyes. She was generous in sharing her treats with family and friends and passed on this tradition to her children.  Judy loved to work the puzzles in the newspaper and to play cards and board games.  Many evenings were spent at the kitchen table or in hotel lobbies with friends and family playing cards and just visiting.  She treasured the time she spent playing Scrabble with her mom and with her older sister.

Judy is survived by two daughters: Annette Korbas and Rose Ortiz; three grandchildren: Andrew (Kayli) Ortiz, Dominic Ortiz, and Rachel Ortiz; two great-grandchildren: Emelia Ortiz and Lucia Ortiz; her sister: Mary Stirtzinger; her brother: Fred (Jeannie) Hetler; brothers-in-law: Jim Korbas and Mike (Patty) Korbas; sister-in-law: Teresa Tash; a very large and loving extended family, and many, many friends.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband Tom, after celebrating 57 years of marriage; her son: Brian Korbas; her parents: Leo and Elizabeth Hetler; brother-in-law: Philip Stirtzinger; brothers-in-law: Steve (Gaylee) Korbas, Joe (Virginia) Korbas, Rudy (Marilyn) Korbas and Paul Korbas; and sisters-in-laws: Marianne Korbas and Ann Sims Korbas.

The family thanks the staff at Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis, IN for their care, support, and compassion.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 4-7 pm at the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, OH 44875 where a rosary will be recited at 7 pm.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 10:30 am at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 29 West Street, Shelby. Fr. Chris Mileski will celebrate the Mass with burial following in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary School, 26 West Street, Shelby, OH 44875 in support of Judy’s life-long commitment to parochial school education.

Condolences may be made on Judy’s obituary on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).

Memories & Condolence

  1. Duane Borgelt says:

    Dear Annette, Rose & family, our hearts break for you at the loss of your mom. I’ll always remember your mom and dad fondly. Thoughts and prayers, Duane, Joe, & Sarah

  2. Joe & Lynn Wechter says:

    I taught with Judy for 5 years at St. Mary’s in Shelby. She was such a help to me being just out of college. Judy was so devoted to her work and did a fantastic job with her students. As the reading specialist, she helped many of my students succeed. Judy was a very special person and educator!

  3. Kelley Recker says:

    My deepest sympathy to Rose, Annette and your entire family. I have many blessed memories of my college and post college visits to your home. Your mom was a true gem and loved for family extensively. Such a wonderful and spiritual woman. May your memories console you in the days to come.

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