Southbury-

Lota Dee (Henry) Deakin, 95, of Southbury, passed peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. She was born in 1927 in the Glendale section of Cincinnati, Ohio, to Merle (Hughes) and Clarence Henry.

She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, George, in 2014, and leaves behind her seven children, eleven grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. She grew up in Ohio with two brothers and two sisters in the era of the great depression, overcoming the challenges that came with her generation.

Family and cooking were her passions, and she dearly missed the love of her life, George, for the past eight years. Her cat, Smokey, the New York Yankees, and Green Bay Packers were other favorites. She was also an avid reader, blessed by the generosity of the Southbury Public Library to provide her with a new stack of books every few weeks. She had a gentle demeanor and a warm smile, and anyone who visited her home would not be allowed to leave hungry. She would spend hours preparing favorite recipes, always for the family, right up to her final day in preparation for Christmas.

Mom was also predeceased by her sisters Ruth (Breeden), Betty (Conover), and brothers Bruce and Warren. She is survived by her sons Dave (and wife, Carol) of North Carolina, Matt of Florida, Mick (and Michele Wallin) of Brookfield, Pat of Newtown, Bob (and Susie De La Cruz) of Florida, her daughters Chris Dunleavy (and David Cook) of Southbury, and Karen Youngstrom and her husband, Glenn, of West Hartford.

Dee moved to Danbury, Connecticut, in the mid-1950s, first staying with her sister and family, who owned "The Sign of the Fiddle Inn" in the Mill Plain area. She married George not long after, and the family resided in the Jefferson Avenue area of town.

She worked for years until her retirement from the former Berol Corporation and spent most of her retirement in Heritage Village in Southbury. She cherished communication with her relatives in both the western U.S. and Florida and enjoyed collecting memorabilia and entertaining with family in Connecticut.

Calling hours are from 10 am to 12 pm on January 5 at the Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St N, Southbury, CT 06488. Our family wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to Mom's home companion and friend, Shade'a, who provided warm and generous care this past year, and to the Danbury Regional Hospice. Contributions in Dee's memory may be made to Danbury Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road Danbury, CT 06810.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.