Deana Slusser lay peacefully in her Hospice House bed at 7:57 AM Saturday and as if to say, "I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."(2 Timothy 4:7-8), surrendered her soul to her Heavenly Father. Deana was an adopted child and her recorded birthday took place in Fort Wayne Indiana and was fittingly on February 14th, 1943, the feast of Saint Valentine, a saint who was beaten with clubs and stoned and when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded. Deana, a known fighter and advocate for the underprivileged, devoted her entire life to defending not only her rights, but those of others who could not, or would not, speak for them selves. This particular quality of her personality was found refreshing to some and abrasive to others but Deana would not waver when it came to acting in a manner that she truly believed was deeply rooted in Gospel values. Her character and convictions would lead to many estrangements throughout her life but her focus on her spiritual pilgrimage and the teachings of Jesus Christ always provided for forgiveness to be both sought and offered.
Deana frequented many of the shelters in the Michiana Community and a common misconception is that she was there to receive assistance when in fact her presence was a result of her desire to share and support the effort of the organization. A tireless giver, Deana spent so much time at the home of her parish family, Queen of Peace in Mishawka, that she would literally sleep in her van on occasions when her contribution of time and effort would conclude so late that she deemed it to be more prudent to spend the night on the property rather than return home and come back for Mass first thing the next morning. Deana was a daily recipient of the Holy Eucharist and, in consistent fashion with her concern for others, was not bashful about directing Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist to those at Mass who could not make it up to the sanctuary to receive Holy Communion. Deana was visible at virtually every function at Queen of Peace Parish, without exception, including the Boy Scouts! Her willingness to serve God by assisting others was so strong that her presence became expected at any given moment. Deana was more at home in the kitchen of Queen of Peace than anywhere else and anyone who did not know her by name would recognize her as the relatively short, bald woman with glasses who would stand with rounded shoulders wearing an apron looking for something to do or someone to help. Or, as Father Dan so eloquently mentioned in his Sunday homily, "Deana was the one whose white van would often be parked in the middle of the drive blocking traffic."
Deana was raised in Elkhart Indiana. In 1962 she graduated from Saint Joseph High School in South Bend and in 1967, on June 3rd, in Saint Patrick''s Church of South Bend, she married Glen Eugene Slusser. They remained married until his death in 1995. Deana,in addition to many health issues of her own, had cared for her ailing husband for many years before he died. But Deana continued to struggle and held firm to her faith in God at all times.
Deana and Glen''s only child, a son John, Ozzie'', lives in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.
Other survivors include a sister, Janette (William) Day and Thomas R. Durfee (Virginia), both of Elkhart and another brother, Donald R. Durfee of Yucca Arizona. Deana also has two uncles, Gene Smith (Maryanne) of New Carlisle, Indiana and Dale Smith (Margaret) of South Bend.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Father Daniel Scheidt will take place at Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Bittersweet and Vistula Roads in Mishawaka at 2 PM Tuesday afternoon with visitation taking place at the church one hour prior to the Mass.
Following the Mass Deana''s earthly remains will accompany her son Ozzie on a trip they had planned out west where she will be buried.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Queen of Peace Student Tuition Assistance Fund.
The family would like to thank Dolly Donahue for the love and charity she extended to Deana over the years. Also, the family would like to recognize and express their gratitude towards the medical staffs of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and Hospice House of Roseland for the comfort and compassion they extended throughout the final stages of Deana''s earthly existence.
And it is the hope of all family members that Deana''s parish family and Father Dan will forever know the appreciation deep in their hearts for providing their loved one with such a beautiful environment to not only grow closer to God but help lead her to her eternal and Heavenly Home with God