Della A. Deeb, 98, of Rochester, passed away at her residence at 11:45 AM on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Wynnfield Crossing of Rochester.
On June 11, 1925, Della Alberta Martin was born in rural Montgomery County near Darlington to William and Grace Burkhart Martin. Growing up she shared her childhood with five brothers and ten sisters, Della being the 13th of 16. In 1943 she graduated from Shadeland High School. Following in her older sister’s footsteps, she went to City Hospital (later Wishard) now known as Eskenazi for nurses training. Nurse Della A. Deeb earned the distinction of registered nurse. After obtaining her R.N. she went to work in Lafayette. While there she cared for a student from Purdue as one of her patients, and he became her future husband, Simon Deeb.
They married in New Richmond on September 12, 1948. After living for a short time in Lafayette and Twelve Mile, they moved to Rochester, building their first home in Manitou Heights and raising four children. Della worked as a Private Duty Nurse and then at Woodlawn Hospital where her career spanned three decades before she retired at age 65.
While at Woodlawn, Della was known as a hard-working, and caring nurse and made many life-long friendships. She was a faithful member of Grace United Methodist Church (Grace Church). In her free time, she enjoyed traveling, cooking for her family which included several Lebanese dishes. She always enjoyed gardening and preserving her harvest to share with her family and friends. She devoted her life to her family and attended their activities whenever possible.
Della was a loving, caring person and will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family. Left to cherish her memory are her children Jayne Gretz of Deer Park, IL, Connie Snyder and husband Jim of Rochester, Dennis Deeb and wife Terri of Hebron, Debe Williams and husband Mark of Mahomet, IL; her eight grandchildren, Ben Snyder and wife Kara, Meredith Daw and husband Peter, Emily Morris and husband Randy, Whitney Gretz and husband Chris, Claire Williams, Alex Williams and wife Ashley, Daniel Deeb and wife Laurie, Clayton Deeb and wife Megan. She has 13 great-grandchildren, James, William, Aiden, Mason, Aubrey, Ella, Simon, Logan, Lucas, Evan, Martin, Murphy and Crina and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Della in death are her parents, husband, a granddaughter and her 15 siblings.
Della’s family would like to thank Wynfield Crossing, especially Cassandra Beatty and Taylor Ether for their wonderful and loving care of Della over the last several years.
A celebration of the life of Della A. Deeb will be at 1:30 PM on Sunday, November 19, 2023, in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th St., Rochester.
Friends may visit with the family from 11:30-1:30 on Sunday in the funeral home. Pastor Kurt Nichols will officiate.
Interment will be in the Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Grace Church, 201 West 7th St., Rochester, IN 46975, the Si Deeb Agriculture Scholarship Fund or Charity of One’s Choice.
Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to her family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.
