Judith Kay Scagliotti

Judith Kay Scagliotti (née Judith Kay Pierce) born December 12, 1935, of Gilroy, California, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at the age of 90.

Born in Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa, to Cleo Silvers and Floyd Everett Pierce, she was an eleventh generation Mayflower descendent and a descendent of the pioneering Silvers and Crosby families of Iowa. Judith moved with her family to Gilroy in 1947 at the age of 12. It was here that she established lifelong roots and built enduring relationships within the community she called home.

She is survived by her son, Stephen Bonesio (Betty Jo), and her daughter, Debra Richards (Michael); her six beloved grandchildren, Lisa Walls (Larry), Sarah Robinson, Cori Coetzee (Dawie), Peter Bonesio (Doriell), Kevin Pfeffer (Kelly), Chelsea Richards and Chelsea’s fiancé Thomas Perry. She is also survived by twenty-one great grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren; her sisters, Nancy Valencia and Mona Berman (Mel) and many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard J. Scagliotti, and her sister, JoAnn, whose memories she held dear.

An avid reader since childhood, Judith’s love of language inspired her to write short stories and poems throughout her adult life. She belonged to various writing groups and went on to work for a time, as a columnist for the Gilroy Dispatch Society page, where she shared local happenings and personal observations with warmth, wit and gentle humor. Over the years she gereously gave her time to many community efforts, including St. Joseph’s Family Center, local theater, and womans church groups. She also expressed her creativity through her love of painting, gardening, and cooking —always infusing her life with color, care and joy.

Judith’s greatest love was her family, and many of her funny and heartwarming stories were inspired by the adventures she shared with her grandchildren while they were growing up. They often spent lengthy summer visits with her, creating memories forever close to her heart. Her great-grandchildren brought her boundless happiness and she treasured each one dearly, leaving a legacy that continues through future generations.

Judith will be remembered not only for her creativity and humor but for the deep warmth, love, and devotion she shared with all who knew her. Her life was a testament to curiosity, imagination, and the enduring joy of family.

“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die” – Thomas Campbell

The family will hold a celebration of Judith’s life at a private gathering to be arranged, sharing memories with close friends and loved ones.