Jessilee Van Pelt

On March 9, 2010, Jessilee Van Pelt, 85 of Wirtz, Va. passed into the loving arms of her Lord. She was born Jessilee Easterly, on May 1, 1924, in Grand Tower, Illinois to Clara and Owen Easterly. Mrs. Van Pelt was raised in Illinois, and married Percy J. Van Pelt on March 5, 1944. After the war she moved to central New York with Percy to raise their family, and later in life furthered her education by receiving her LPN from The Utica School of Practical Nursing. Thoughout her career, she was employed by Broadacres Nursing Home in Utica, NY until her retirement, and later moved with her husband to Virginia. She was a member of Franklin Heights Baptist Church and resided in Wirtz, Va. until her entrance into the South Roanoke Nursing Home where she stayed until her passing. An intelligent, gracious woman who was beautiful both inside and out, and blessed with an abundance of faith that she demonstrated thoughout her life, Mrs. Van Pelt was a gifted vocalist and pianist, who will always be remembered as kind hearted and compassionate by all who knew her, and her soft spoken manner and sweet humor remained with her until the end. She was the wife who cherished her man…the dedicated homemaker with a spotless house and well-used oven…the mom who handmade tiny dollclothes when they were unaffordable..the friend who took in other’s children when they needed a place to stay…the grandma who lovingly put miles on her rocking chair; the great-grandma (GiGi) with an art gallery of toothless faces and crayon Picassos on her refrigerator. Yes we will miss her..and yes, Heaven will joyously embrace her. She leaves her son Kenneth Van Pelt of Rocky Mount, daughters Pamela Bono and husband John of Moneta, Cheryl Hess of Wirtz, and Sandra Britt of Whitesboro, NY. Grandchildren: Matthew Van Pelt, Melynnda Dewitt and husband Jason, Joy Van Pelt and Chris Hopp, Amanda Van Pelt, Kristine Ewert and husband Aaron, Steve Bono and wife Jeanette, Lance Corporal Michael Hess, Amber Hess, Daniel Britt and wife Sara and Timothy Britt. Great-grandchildren; Avery and Jackson Ewert, and Sophia Hopp, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Percy and her siblings; Margaret Easterly, Hilma Stark, Gilbert Easterly, Benjamin Easterly and Stanley Easterly. A special thanks goes out to the staff of South Roanoke Nursing for their kindness and devoted attention, especially her friend and caretaker Phyllis. Family and friends are invited to attend. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Saturday March 13, 2010 at Flora Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park. Her family will be receiving friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Memorials can be made to Franklin Heights Baptist Church 110 Hilltop Dr. Rocky Mount, Va. 24151. Arrangements by Flora Funeral & Cremation Service 665 South Main Street. www.florafuneralservice.com