Jocelyn Michele Ridgely

Obituary

Jocelyn Michelle Ridgely, 43, passed away in Chandler, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2025. She was born in 1981 to David and Barbara (Dancey) Ridgely in Milwaukee. Jocelyn was a multi-talented singer, actor, and business leader. She was a positive, effervescent woman who brought joy to everyone she met.

A graduate of Grafton High School, she was beloved by her GHS Tennis teammates for her charisma and friendship and admired by many for her musical and theater accomplishments. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre Performance from UW-Whitewater — a truly transformational experience that gave her a great foundation to build on, performing in Sylvia, Guys and Dolls, Fuddy Meers, The Odd Couple, Zombies from the Beyond, and Measure for Measure.

As a young actress, her memorable performances in musicals and stage productions — from Maria in The Sound of Music at GHS to Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at UWW — wowed every audience, cast, and crew.

After graduating, Jocelyn stayed active in the Milwaukee area theater and indie film scenes. She performed in stage productions including In Tandem Theatre Company’s A Cudahy Caroler Christmas and Irish Stew, Off the Wall Theater’s Trainspotting and Grand Guignol, Theatre Gigante’s Quorum, Milwaukee Irish Arts’ Plough, World Stage Theatre’s Phaedra’s Love, Bialystock & Bloom’s The Jammer and Poona the F-Dog, Windfall Theatre’s Wittenberg, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Hay Fever and the Skylight Opera’s South Pacific. Notable film roles include Mary in Artificial, which won the Audience Favorite and netted Joci Best Actor in the 2007 Milwaukee Short Film Festival, as well as the cult favorites Space Cop and Revenge of Nadine.

On three occasions, she was a featured soloist with the Lakeshore Symphonic Band, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Blue Moon,” among others. She also spent a few memorable years as a Karaoke DJ in the Milwaukee area, commanding the mic, showcasing her diverse taste in music, and allowing her to share her incredible vocal talents.

She was incredibly talented and kind of a big deal — to those close to her, those who worked alongside her in the theater scene, and complete strangers who admired her musical artistry and thespian brilliance. Friends describe her as free-spirited, gifted, sparkling, sunshine and light. Jocelyn was a kind and loving person, not just to family and friends, but to people of all kinds, as well as pets and animals of all kinds. She had a special relationship with her cat, Logan; and she was a supporter of ethical treatment of animals and a vegan lifestyle for many years. She was a caring, supportive daughter, fun and fantastic sister, loving auntie and godmother, and doting cat mom.

Her passion for relationships and adventure translated perfectly to a career in sales. She started traveling for work while contracting with US Jesco, a sales job that helped her to perfect the performance art of crowd work, selling products including knife sets, Mr. Sticky and the ShamWow (IYKYK). She was a great asset to catering sales at Qdoba, and business development for WebCME for several years, then spent four years at the Amish Craftsmen Guild II in Cedarburg as Director of Resort and Wholesale Services.

Her love for coffee and tea, which started with part-time barista jobs in her early 20s, came full circle when she joined Rishi Tea & Botanicals for a rich and exciting decade-long tenure starting in 2016. There, she started as an account manager, working her way up to regional sales manager, then director, where she built and led a talented team to spread Rishi’s footprint across the Western region of the US. Most recently, she received a promotion to National Director of Hospitality Accounts – one she had just accepted before her death. She was beloved by leaders, colleagues, teammates, and customers alike. She loved to travel, a bug she may have caught on a trip to Scotland her senior year of high school with best friend Andrea Roehrborn and parents. Her sales career enabled travels throughout the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as Japan, where she “met her very first tea tree” and visited tea farms with Rishi colleagues in 2023.

Surviving family members include her loving parents, David and Barbara (Dancey); siblings Deborah (Tony) Paegelow, Lisa Ridgely (Ryan Elliott), Megan Ridgely (Chris Lilienthal); and nieces Miranda (Tim) Evans and Sarah (Max) Somelofske, and nephew Caleb Paegelow; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She will be fondly remembered by her godson Emerson Shoop, best friends from high school and college, theater and musical collaborators, Rishi colleagues and customers, and many more. She was preceded in death by her sister, Alison Kay; aunt, Carol (Dancey) Luebbe; and grandparents, William and Esther (Wray) Ridgely and David and Dorothy (Dorrington) Dancey. Her beloved brother, Nathan, passed away after her death. We know they were welcomed to heaven with open arms by family, friends, and dear pets Pippi, Squiggy, Akiko, Rainforest, and Logan.

A private celebration of life will be held for family and friends on May 31. Please RSVP below.

In place of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society or a cause of your choice.

Gallery

Memory wall

November 10, 2025

I only knew Jocelyn Through her work with Red Letter Media, but her comedic talent and warm personality always brought a smile to my face. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

Tobias Widéen

May 31, 2025

One of my favorite memories with Jocelyn was during time together in Hawaii for work. After our training, we decided to take advantage of being near the beach and go to the local lagoon. We thought we made sure we had all we needed: bathing suites, sun glasses, and of course Korean skin care SPF! After battling to find parking and finally making our way to the beach, we looked at each other and realized we both totally forgot towels! We decided to proceed forward anyway and made a whole afternoon of enjoying the beautiful water and our time in HI. We went home sopping wet in the car but perfectly happy. I wouldn’t have it any other way with anyone else. I always appreciated Jocelyn’s free spirit and zest for life. You are dearly missed my beautiful friend.

Tarra Samuelson

May 27, 2025

Jocelyn was one of the first to befriend me when I started at Rishi Tea 9 years ago. One of my best memories was us singing juke box jams at Ynot 2 during my first month. She was a fun and kind hearted friend.

Marino Baca

May 19, 2025

My best memory of Jocelyn was doing a special Matcha Meditation with her. It was a very special experience for everyone participating and I could tell we brought calm to their days. That was Jocelyn in a nutshell, always bringing peace to those around her. Any event we did she would make sure everyone got enough rest and something to eat. May she rest in peace.

Sara Quiroz

May 17, 2025

I remember watching this new girl in 3rd grade with the great smile. Then seeing the musician coming out of her in middle school choir. Seeing her in the plays and musicals in high school was great too. I will miss that singing voice and friendly face.

Mike Lorbeck

May 16, 2025

I just wanted to share a fun memory of Jocelyn- we knew each other peripherally through the Milwaukee theater community. One day I was doing a job for Lori Lins- handing out info about Aurora Health Care at a KMart somewhere…it was so boring- all of a sudden I see Jocelyn- I’m pretty sure she was wearing a blue wig or she may have had blue hair?? She was selling knives- this is what I remember- I may have the details off but the blue hair I’m pretty sure is correct. I’m super awkward so I didn’t say anything but then she saw me and yelled out my name. We were both stuck at that store all day and she forced me to enjoy myself. She was funny and fun and interesting and bold- I’m happy I knew her!

Amie L

May 14, 2025

I meet Jocelyn at Qdoba Mexican Grill, her order was a vegie bowl, always sweet and lovable, we started talking and became a friend, I left Qdoba and start working for Rishi, 2 years later I saw her walking in production, we hug each other celebrating like a kids knowing that we were working together again for the same company. I will always remember you.

Ernesto Castillo

May 13, 2025

I have always known Jocelyn to be very nice and we always got along well. I'm sorry she's gone and am sad for her whole family.

David Martin

May 13, 2025

The first time Jocelyn and I met, I had just started working at Rishi and hadn't yet met anyone else from the company in person. I joined her at a cafe in Seattle where she was doing a training and she spoke to me as though we were already friends. That day she introduced me to my all time favorite tea, Ha Giang Fairy Tea, which she said tasted just like honey, and I watched as a near-endless string of people from the cafe approached her, so excited to see her and catch up. The manager of the cafe had brought her a bunch of saffron from his garden when he'd heard she was coming. That night, we went out for dinner and when I mentioned I'd been a pastry chef, Joce ordered one of every dessert on the menu and made me rank them all.

Jocelyn was one of the kindest, warmest, gentlest people I've ever known. She always made sure everyone was fed before herself, and when I drank too much she got me back to my room safely (and we made one another cry-laugh in the uber on the way back to the hotel). I have thought of her every day since February 14th, and have considered what aspects of her spirit that I (among many others) loved so deeply, and have considered how I can embody these qualities and keep her alive in this way. Because of her I will no doubt be more gentle and will aspire to look out for others how she so effortlessly did. I love you Joce, I will think of you every time I drink Ha Giang Fairy Tea, and I miss your kindness and softness and your big green eyes.

Kelsie

May 13, 2025

Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never be more than a thought apart,
far as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart.💔

Loretta Miller

May 13, 2025

I knew this incredible woman from UW-W and I was sadden to hear the news of her passing. She was an amazing actress and very funny. She will be greatly missed!!

Idola

May 13, 2025

I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyn at UWW. She was so energetic and talented. I feel fortunate that our paths crossed while on this floating rock. Her smile and personality made it feel like instant friendship. My deepest condolences to all that loved her.

Amy Alderman

May 13, 2025

I was honored to get to know Joc during our overlapping time at UWW. We played best friends in the musical, Zombies From The Beyond, and I had so much fun hanging out with her and our small cast. As a sophomore, I was kind of nervous, and Joc made me feel welcome and capable right away. She was the cool girl who helped me loosen up and see things from a different perspective. Joc was so talented and also just so comfortable in her own skin. I enjoyed following her adventures on social media and was so happy for her success - especially seeing her travel to Japan with Rishi. My deepest condolences to Joc’s family and friends who are grieving the loss of such a beautiful soul. All my love, Heather

Heather (Stoskopf) Uzowulu

Celebration of Life