Lydia Emory VanFossen aged 85, VA, aka “Mrs. Claus” and 52 years the loving, devoted, and appreciatively supporting wife of Robert Wayne VanFossen, died June 1, 2023 in their home with husband and friends at her side.

Lydia Emory was also born at a home in Petersburg (on Mingea Street) July 14, 1937, to Jessie (Cooley, 1902-1980) and Frank Herbert Emory (1889-1962).  He worked for a Luggage Company, and could have made the case that carried the first moon rocks!  After it closed he worked at the city sewage plant and dug graves at the Blandford Cemetery where his daughter will now be interred.

Lydia was one of six children.  She was a life-long member at St. Joseph’s Church where she shared many labors and talents.  She sang in the choir.  She helped with St. Joseph’s food assistance program.  She graduated St. Joseph’s High School in 1956.  She then worked at “Spotless Hardware Store” and found her life-mate, Robert “Wayne” VanFossen.  They married May 25, 1973.  (Her mother declared their marriage wouldn’t last six months!  And in a sense she was right as the couple just celebrated their 52nd anniversary!)

Together they made their home at 264 High Street for some 16 years.  They were enrolled as family members of the High Street Association in March of 1985.  Later they “downsized” into their present home where she lived to her last breath.

Folks knew Wayne from many community service jobs he’d held from bagging groceries to pumping gas to his little coffee shop on Sycamore or during ten years at Pepsi Cola or as the South Park Mall Cop or from forty-two years as a member of the Knights of Columbus, etc.  But many more knew the couple as “The Oddities Shop” or as the folks who cleaned the church or helpers at St. Joseph’s food pantry for so many, many years-“so many years ago.”  Others saw them as the perfect storybook description of “Mr. & Mrs. Claus”.

Most did not know how Lydia’s life was plagued with many extraordinary difficulties, sadness, and sorrows-multiple cancers, health issues, and griefs-but through it all she developed a profoundly strong faith and character, found the grace to be cheerful, and was quick to give thanks and praise to God with extreme appreciation for even the seemingly simplest of things which most of us take for granted.  It was simply delightful to be in Lydia’s company.  A niece reported she always signed her letters with “Love Lydia” followed by “Go to church!”

At last, Lydia’s heart defects failed to support her efforts and she was no longer capable of taking care of Wayne or even herself.  So she spent a bit of time in the hospital and nursing home.  Wayne had been rehabilitating there previously and at home during some long complications with knee surgeries, etc., through most of which she had waited on him literally hand and foot.  As Wayne recovered but the doctor had no good prognosis for Lydia, she expressed her earnest desire to die in her own home surrounded by family and friends.  So he, Wayne, promised to take care of her now and the doc reluctantly sent her home “unlikely to last four days but not more than maybe six weeks”.

Now it was Wayne’s turn to wait on Lydia hand and foot-which he did faithfully and to the very end (with only occasional help from Hospice, Fire & Rescue Team, or available visitors.)  He took her home and notified all the relatives, church family, fraternal brothers, and old friends, etc.  With Lydia’s determination and hope to see or hear from her many old friends one last time, and husband’s love and care, and God’s own timing-Lydia lived 151 days with only one heart valve and that one only partially working!

Many of her waning enjoyable times were passed reminiscing during frequent and prolonged visits renewing a friendship with a couple she adopted as “family”.  They often sang together until at last she was unable, then just listened to some of her favorite songs and hymns with regular readings of comforting Bible passages, and prayers.  Her mind remained incredibly sound.

At last, her final breath of life returned to God who sent it, and now her body to the dust of the earth.  But her soul died safely in that “blessed hope” of the “first” resurrection, at the sound of the trumpet of Jesus return, and the reunion with those true hearts she now leaves behind as well as those who have gone before.  All of whom will be caught up together with her, to be ever with the Lord! – with a new and eternal life in heaven, and on this earth made new!  There, where there will be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor sickness, nor death, nor sin!  There, where even the lion and the lamb will lie down together in perfect peace!  There, where The Lamb of God and The Lion of the Tribe of Judah will be the light!  There, where the city will have foundations of precious stones and streets paved with gold!  There, together with God and loved ones forever and ever! Amen!

Those who have hallowed Lydia’s ground (preceded her in death) included her parents Jessie C and Frank Emory; six children; her sister, Ella Blank (Louis); three brothers, Raymond (Cindy), Rudolph, and Oliver (Sally); beloved pets and most friends. She is survived by her husband Robert Wayne VanFossen; her nieces and nephews, Carol Ann King, Donna Roberts, Diane Emory, Roger Emory, Louie Blank, Julie Trexler, Helena Samuel, Michael Emory; great niece Jenifer Emory; sister in law Barbara K. Emory and at last a pet dog named “Smokey.”

Her requested last song was “On Eagles Wings” (or “High on a Mountain”) though her most vocalized words were “The Old Rugged Cross” and her newest most shared favorite was “The Prayer” and often her most comforting was “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” by Fountain View Acadamy: from You Tube.  When feeling especially lively she rocked to “Kiss an Angel Good Morning”.  Her most requested scripture was Psalm 23, but her most comforting readings when she needed rest or pain relief come from “powerful Anointed Scriptures for sleep” on You Tube by Soak Stream.  She always welcomed with enthusiasm any offered prayer then always closed with her own!  She would never miss the Washington Redskins and Nascar with Wayne, and country music too! But as Jesus said, “Our friend (Lydia) sleeps!”  So, in the words of another old song “Until that day breaks in heaven and shadows flee away – until that day (we remaining, will) serve the Lord!”  To Lydia we say, “Rest in Peace!”  And to that WE ALL say — AMEN!

(As a footnote:  These words will be found on the website of Richmond Coach and Cremation Service, and there will be found there a place for comments if any wish to share a memory or message for Wayne or the family.  Thank you for honoring Lydia today and supporting Wayne.  May it be well with your soul, and may God bless you as you go in peace.  And to Wayne, Joan and I dedicate a “New” old song by John Denver & Placido Domingo for you to contemplate titled “Perhaps Love”. God bless you too!)

The Service is scheduled for June 12th at 12 noon, St Joseph’s Catholic Church.