Judith Lee (Siebenthal) Garrison

Judith Lee (Siebenthal) Garrison, of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away the morning of Sunday, September 6th, 2026, following a rapid decline due to heart conditions. Born In Bloomington on December 12th, 1951, she was the daughter of Robert L. and Mavis C. Siebenthal. Judith is survived by her three children: Ellen L. Garrison, Kent C. Garrison (and wife Siobhan), and Ruby L. Readman (and husband William); her sister Tracy Siebenthal; former husband Matthew Garrison; and her beloved dog Sheila. She was predeceased by her parents Bob (2008) and Mavis (2015), and her sister Janet Burks (1971). Judith found her calling as a librarian in 1988 as Director of the public library in Hammondsport, New York. She went on to earn her Masters in Library and Information Science from Indiana University, eventually becoming Head of Reference & Instruction at Armstrong State College’s Lane Library in Savannah, GA from 2011 to 2018. She was an avid reader, and even more avid listener, of books from nearly every genre. Her students, friends and family all benefitted from her thoughtful recommendations and witty, enthusiastic analysis of her favorite (and least favorite) novels and memoirs. From the age of 22, Judith lived with rheumatoid arthritis and its many associated complications. She refused to let her life be defined by illness. Instead, she found joy and fulfillment in her work as a librarian and in volunteering with organizations like CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and Big Brothers / Big Sisters, as a member of the Vestry and as Rector’s Warden at Bloomington’s Trinity Church. In the weeks before she passed she was excited to join a new book club in the fall, and was actively engaged in numerous projects - from learning to walk with her prosthetic leg, to teaching Sheila some impressive new tricks. Her extraordinary resilience and unflagging optimism, her fierce independence and occasionally goofy sense of humor, have always been, and will always be, a source of inspiration and pride to the family and friends she leaves behind. A memorial service will be held at 11am on Friday, October 2nd, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal Church (111 S. Grant Street, Bloomington), with Rev. Matt Seddon officiating. A light reception will immediately follow in Trinity’s Great Hall. A private family interment will take place at Valhalla Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Judith’s name to the Freedom to Read Foundation (link: https://www.ftrf.org/donations/donate.asp?id=6200). To include an (optional) notification of a gift, use email address garrisonfamily835@gmail.com. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37 has been entrusted with the arrangements and online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

Judith Lee (Siebenthal) Garrison

December 12, 1951 - September 6, 2026