Neville Feil

FEIL, Neville Wood, 93, passed away peacefully as she slept on the morning of November 16, 2009 at the Martha Jefferson Infirmary in Charlottesville. Mrs. Feil was born on August 29, 1916 in Charlottesville, the daughter of the late Lyttelton Waddell Wood and the late Eunice Watkins Wood. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Feil was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Ralph Witten Feil; and her brother, James Burnley Wood MD, both of Charlottesville. Surviving her are her three children, James Witten Feil and his wife, Annie Sharolyn, of Chaska, Minn., Ralph Lyttelton Feil and his wife, Punkie, of Charlottesville, and Nancy Feil Lowry and her husband, John, of Charlottesville; her sister, Lucy Wood Morris of Charlottesville; and her sister-in-law, Margaret W. Wood of Charlottesville; her nine grandchildren, Ashlyn L. Holz, Holly E. Molskness and J. David Feil, of the Minneapolis area, Katherine F. Dowdy of Farmville, Elizabeth F. Matthews of Charlottesville, and Bethany F. Taibl of Alexandria, James W. Lowry MD of Shelby, N.C., D. Edward Lowry of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and Michaux L. Hood of Charlottesville; 10 great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their respective spouses and children. Following her attendance in the Charlottesville public schools, Mrs. Feil attended Randolph Macon Women's College and then the University of Virginia, where she received her degree in education with an emphasis in science and mathematics. After teaching public school in Albemarle County for a year, Mrs. Feil was married and lived for five years in Rochester, N.Y., after which she and her husband, Ralph, returned to Charlottesville. Although she was interested in all intellectual pursuits, particularly reading, Neville (and later "Grandma Nevi") devoted most of her life and her talents and energy to caring for her husband, home, extended family and friends, and doing nice things for others. Neville loved cooking, gardening, sewing, swimming regularly with her sister, Lucy, and her friend, Sue Haight, playing cards and entertaining her large extended family, most often on birthdays and other special family occasions. She also enjoyed teaching and loved to teach her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews how to cook, sew, work puzzles, play ball, play cards, repair furniture and do any number of exciting and interesting things. Neville volunteered for many years at the Martha Jefferson Hospital. She touched many lives in many different ways, always with a certain grace, good humor and genuine interest in the lives of others. She asked for very little, gave very much and continued to brighten the lives of her family with her smiles until her death. The family deeply appreciates the considerate and gentle care given to Neville by all the staff at Martha Jefferson Infirmary during her stay there and in recent weeks by Hospice of the Piedmont. There will be a graveside service open to all on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Maplewood Cemetery. The family will receive guests at the home of John and Nancy Lowry, 3475 Red Hill School Road, North Garden, after the service. The family suggests that any who wish to do so make memorial contributions to a favorite charity. Friends may sign the guest book at www.hillandwood.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.