CALLAO—Antoinette Marie “Bunny” Lewis of Callao passed away peacefully with family by her side on May 10, 2023. She was 83 years old.
Bunny was born and raised in Elizabeth, N.J. She met her husband, Homer, as a teenager at a firehouse dance, and the couple wed in June of 1958. The newlyweds moved to Oklahoma with the Army and later relocated back to New Jersey and ultimately to Toms River, N.J., where they would raise their family. Bunny had two daughters, Kathleen and Susan, and was a devoted mother.
Mrs. Lewis enjoyed crafts and made numerous crocheted items over the years, many of which she gave to loved ones and friends. Bunny also enjoyed reading novels and passages from the Bible, often with a cup of coffee in winter or iced tea in the warmer months.
She loved puzzles, board games and card games of all sorts and shared that joy with her children and grandchildren. She attended all her children and grandchildren’s school events and made it a point to be an active part of their lives.
Bunny enjoyed taking care of her family, ensuring dinner was always on the table each evening, and though the family almost always had a dog or cat (or both) living in the home, not a single pet hair could be found. Especially in her later years, she was known to take in a stray cat or two, and Homer would indulge her, often building a home for their new family member.
Bunny and Homer retired to Callao in December 1996, where they became active in their church community. Bunny was a devout Christian and attended Sunday service in addition to Bible study on Wednesday evenings. She was always willing to lend a hand, preparing for communion service, serving as a church teller, or helping a church member in need.
Mrs. Lewis is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore Alessi and Muriel Doty Alessi; her siblings, Muriel Andersen, Betty Andersen, Sandra Alessi and Edward Hare; and her son-in-law, David O’Connell.
She leaves behind her husband, Homer; sister, Judith Lewis (Calvin) of Callao; daughters, Kathleen Cochran (Michael) of Williamsburg and Susan Lewis of Callao; three grandchildren, Joshua O’Connell (Marina) of Sterling, Rebekah Morrison (Alexander) of Toano and Lily Lewis of Callao; four great-grandchildren, Emalyn and Owen O’Connell of Sterling, and Jackson Morrison and his baby brother-to-be of Toano; and many brothers and sisters in-law, nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
Visitation took place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 15, at New Hope Baptist Church. The funeral service followed immediately after at 11 a.m. Interment was at Providence Baptist Church with a luncheon in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Hope Baptist Church, P.O. Box 472, Lottsburg, VA 22511, in Bunny’s name.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
