Anniversary Anecdotes: Judy Bridges
Judy Bridges
I have met many of you since I joined Zion in 2019. Most of you are unaware that I have deep roots at Zion. I was baptized by Pastor Sandmann at Zion's first location on Prestley Road. My great-grandparents, on my mother’s side -- the Erbrechts and the Oelschlagers -- were some of the first members of Zion when the congregation began.
As a young child, I remember attending church picnics on the present church property before the building was erected. My grandfather, Louis Erbrecht, took care of the property and kept his pony, Prince, in a small barn here. When I was visiting, my brothers and I, and my cousins, Tom Erbrecht and his brother, would ride the pony Prince, while my grandfather cut the grass on the five acres. Prince moved off site once the building was constructed.
My uncle Norman, father of Tom Erbrecht, was the architect for the present building. I remember when it was dedicated in 1968.
A great addition to our family occurred here at Zion. My brother, Dale Hesse,who was the organist in the mid 80’s, met his wife Janet Wunnenberg, a fourth grade teacher here. What a blessing she has been to our family.
Once I went to college, I left the Pittsburgh area for many years. My late husband and I met in college. He began his study for the ministry. He served LCMS congregations in Fort Wayne, IN; Memphis, TN; Harrison, AR; Monroeville, PA and Bristol, CT. Our children were added to our family while in Fort Wayne and Monroeville.
I was a teacher for 30 years. When I retired, I no longer had any family living in CT. I decided to move back to the Pittsburgh area to be near family and old friends. That brought me back to Zion because my home church, when I grew up, was no longer part of the LCMS.
Even though I have a number of relatives at Zion, I did not see them during my initial visits to Zion. I was welcomed by so many friendly faces here and immediately felt that this was the right place for me. I enjoy singing in the choir, volunteering at VBS, and serving on the school board. I hope to serve here at Zion for many years to come.
Judy with her husband Pastor Lane Bridges and their children Benjamin and Shelley in 1988 at Trinity Lutheran in Monroeville, PA.
