Justine Koelbel Rood

Justine K. Rood loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away on October 9, 2019 surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of the late Richard T. Rood; mother of the late Richard Q. Rood and the late Mary Pamela Galloway. She is survived by her daughters Penny, Kathy Dillon, Alice, Jean Donovan (husband Michael), Jeannette and her grandchildren Amy Dillon, Christopher Dillon (wife Siran), Elizabeth and Katherine Donovan. Justine Mansell Koelbel was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 7, 1924 to Francis D. Koelbel and Eugenia "Jean" Tecktonius Koelbel. She attended elementary school in Detroit before moving with her family to Racine, Wisconsin - her mother's hometown. She completed her elementary and high school education in Racine before attending Saint Theresa's Nursing School in Waukegan, Illinois. After graduating from nursing school, she returned to Racine where she met and married her late husband, Dick Rood. Justine followed her husband to Washington D.C. where Dick completed his degree at Georgetown University, and she worked at the hospital. Eventually the family settled in Fairfax County, Virginia where Justine has resided since 1952. She worked at the then Arlington Hospital in the newly created Cardiac Unit. Upon retirement from Arlington Hospital, she enjoyed a couple of years of retirement before returning to work for the Fairfax County Real Estate Assessment Department and then the Department of Family Services. She said retirement was to busy as the reason she returned to work - she then retired again at age 74. Justine was a long-time parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua in Falls Church and a member of the Annandale Knights of Columbus's Casey Women's Club. She was also a long-time member of the Area I TOPS Club. In addition, Justine volunteered at the INOVA Fairfax gift shop and was a Eucharistic Member. Justine was an avid reader of mysteries and some of her favorite authors sent her birthday cards through the years and celebrated with her at her virtual 95th birthday party earlier this year. She was delighted to have one of her favorite authors, Kerry Greenwood, name a character after her for a cameo appearance in The Spotted Dog. In addition to her late husband and children Rick and Pam, Justine was predeceased by her parents, her sister Suzanne "Suzi" Harcus and brother Emil "Bud" Koelbel. Donations can be made in Justine's memory to the Baily's Crossroads Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.