Deirdre Jacovides Dean

Virginia Beach - Deirdre Jacovides Dean, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend was called home to be with Our Lord, on January 12, 2015 surrounded by family, love, and faith. The daughter of the late George and Doris Jacovides, she was born in Norwich, England on August 23, 1943 and spent her childhood in Franklin, Virginia.

Deirdre attended Franklin High School and graduated from Longwood College in 1965. Soon after, she began her career in teaching as a second grade teacher in Beltsville, Maryland where, together with her husband Ed, began their marriage and family. In 1979, they moved to Virginia Beach where she raised her children Jennifer, Kristin, and Brian.

One of Deirdre's faithful passions was her devotion to teaching children. She began teaching at All Saints' Day School in 1983 and was Director of the Day School from May 1990 until March 2011 where she promoted learning through play and involving both teachers and parents in the educational process of preschool children. She inspired her students to be creative, to dream, to wonder, to question, to be curious and was thrilled at the achievements of each of her "little ones". Deirdre loved that sweet feeling when her little students called out her name and gave her those warm hearted hugs. Her passion was children and giving them a good start in life.

Deirdre was passionate about her garden, taking long walks on the beach, and caring for her beloved animals. If she was not teaching, her friends could find her pulling weeds and cultivating the many flowers in her sweet garden. Look a bit farther and there she was, walking on the sand, seashells in one hand and the leash of her little angel, Wrigley, in the other. Her dogs and cats were not just pets, they were part of her family. Deirdre was a devoted animal lover who strongly and faithfully believed in animal rescue missions; giving a warm, loving home to those animals in need of a place to call home.

Left to cherish Deirdre's memory are her husband Edwin B. Dean, Jr.; daughters Jennifer McAndrews and Kristin Dullack, and son Brian Dean; 6 grandchildren Bishop and Aiden Oliver, Jacob and Heidi Dullack, and Miriel and Arianna Phillips-Dean; sisters Daphne J. Vann and Peggy J. Hardee, as well as her loving cousins.

The funeral service will be conducted by Rev Ed Martin at 2pm, Friday, January 16, 2015 at Francis Asbury Methodist Church located at 1871 North Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. A reception to celebrate her life will follow the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in her honor may be made to the Best Friends Animal Society or to the animal rescue organization of your choice.