Emma Lucy Coleman Deel

Emma Lucy Coleman Deel, 91, of Fincastle, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Lucy's quiet dedication to her faith and family provided strength in times of blessing and hardship. Known for her quiet demeanor, her devotion to a Christian life, her thankfulness for even the smallest gesture, and her love of gardening, Lucys devotion to her Lord and her faith were evident in her concern and love for everyone around her. Born in Henry County, Va. on December 30, 1920 to the late James Noel Coleman and Mary Lee Mason, she married Leslie Romulus Deel on January 17, 1942. Together in the one room schoolhouse on the hill in Nace, Va., they farmed and raised a family of five children. As a Sunday school teacher in her youth at her childhood church, Lucy spent her early years teaching children about the love of Christ. As a wife and mother, she took that wisdom from teaching and imparted the love of a Christian life to her family. In her later years, she was especially fond of her weekly Bible studies, a special evening that she continued to do until her stroke. She loved her farm home on the hill, working and tending a garden until a debilitating stroke in 2008 at the age of 88. For many years, Lucy provided the family and many neighbors with a bounty of vegetables, fresh raspberries, and flowers to gather and enjoy. From her bed at Raleigh Court Nursing Home, she continued to watch her family garden" grow for three and a half years, this time in the form of the great and great-great grandchildren that she was always so proud of. Up until a few weeks before her passing, she could still remember the birthday of every member in her family, relishing the birth of each little soul that entered her world as she did those little seedlings on the hillside. She tended her family as she did her garden with tenderness, care and, unconditional love, and enjoyed watching each person grow, sharing their joy and sadness over the years. She was always there to offer comfort and a kind word, her house on the hill and her nursing home room becoming a refuge of calm and quiet reflection for many. Over time, Lucy suffered the losses of her husband, Leslie, in 1996; son, Jimmie Deel, in 1994; and daughter, Nancy Toppel, in 2003. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Samuel and Ryland Coleman; and recently her sister, Alma Young. She and her sister especially enjoyed their Florida Vacations when Lucy would visit Alma for a spell during the winter until time to plant peas, sharing special time together sewing, talking, and catching up. Despite heartbreaking losses, she continued to celebrate life in her family: cooking biscuits, sewing quilts, fixing pokes of food and packages of goodies at Christmas, and addressing birthday envelopes with a personal note of love. With compassionate hands, she formed the heart and foundation of the Deel family, always there if someone wanted to visit or talk, share a cookie and coffee, play a game of Rook, or just take a nap on the sofa or at her bedside. Lucy is survived by three children, a daughter, Judy Mills, of Fincastle, Va.; sons, Jerry Deel (Susan) of Waynesboro, Va., and Larry Deel (Sandy) of Salem, Va.; a daughter-in-law, Lula Deel of Salem, Va.; and sons-in-law, Bill Toppel (Doris) of Salem, Va. and Ron Mills of Pensacola, Fl. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their children, Lynn Deel of Salem, Va., and daughter, Sierrah, Tina Thompson (Shaun) of Roanoke, Va. and children, Skyler, Jake, and Chloe, Todd Toppel (Betty) of Roanoke, Va. and children, Taylor and Kristen, Richard Mills of Pensacola, Fl. and daughter, Kayla Warner (Patrick) of Roanoke, Va., and children, Patrick and Wade, Chris Mills of Pensacola, Fl., Jenny Chapman (Jimmy) and son, Matthew, Bryan Deel (Leigh) of Charleston, S.C. and son, Seamus, Kevin Deel (Jamie) of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Stephen Deel (Sara) of Knoxville, Tenn. and children, Gabriella, Harper, Annalise, and Lola, and the youngest of her grandchildren whom she loved to hear sing, Samuel and Annaleigh Deel of Salem, Va. A tribute to Lucy's life will be held at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 11 a.m., with Pastor Terry Johnson officiating. A committal service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery in Henry, Va. The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to the staff at Raleigh Court Health and Rehab, and especially Spencer, for their loving care of Lucy over the last three and a half years, and to the staff at Roanoke Memorial Hospital's ICU, 12 West and Palliative Care unit for their compassionate care over these last few weeks. An online guestbook is available at www.johnmoakey.com. The Deel family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home and Crematory in Salem, 540-389-5441.