Sara Della Lomenick

LaFAYETTE — Sara Della Lomenick, a lifelong resident of LaFayette, Ga., passed away on May 11, 2018. At the time of her death, she was 95 years of age. Della was the youngest of three children of Annie Jane Gray Houston and William Tipton Houston. She grew up in La Fayette, attended La Fayette High School and went on to attend West Georgia College. After completing her academic studies, Della became an elementary school teacher and throughout her adult life she taught at various elementary schools in Walker County. Della had two older siblings, Willie Lee Houston Griffith and John Harrison (J.H.) Houston. Both her sister and brother preceded her in death. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Ann Houston Powell resides in Birmingham, Ala.; General Ronald H. Griffith and his wife Dr. Hurdis Griffith make their home in Arlington, Va.; Mr. Larry B. Griffith and his wife Mrs. Carol Griffith are residents of San Jose, Calif.; Ms. Jane Wiseman Griffith lives in LaFayette. Della was married to, later divorced from, David Lomenick, a long time North Georgia Attorney. They remained close friends until his passing and she cared for and comforted him in his final days. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of La Fayette which she attended regularly from her youth. In 2016, Della moved to Rosewood Manor in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. She made good friends there and greatly enjoyed social relationships with fellow residents and members of the Rosewood staff. In November, 2017 she celebrated her 95th Birthday at Rosewood and was joined in a half day of festivities by family members --- nieces, grand nieces, nephews, grand nephews --- and numerous friends in what became a joyous celebratory occasion. Family members assembled from California, Washington, D.C., Alabama, Florida and Tennessee to honor Della, who has long been considered “the center of the family”. Della was widely known for her fun loving disposition and good humor. Card playing, checkers, and other board games gave her great pleasure; it was routine to participate with her in one of these activities when family members and friends visited with her or hosted her in their homes. She was highly gifted in hand working skills and through the years she knitted and crocheted many beautiful works of clothing attire and bed throws that are family treasures. Della also liked to travel and she enjoyed several international trips and cruises during her post retirement years. In visiting military family members in Europe, Della had the opportunity to tour Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy. And, in 1990 she had the rare opportunity to attend the famous Passion Play which is performed every ten years in the Bavarian town of Oberamergau in Southern Germany. Della’s family is deeply appreciative for and has been much moved by the extraordinary loving care and affection she has received from many of the staff members at Rosewood. A number of these staff personnel went well above and beyond the call of their job responsibilities to attend to her needs, spend time with her socially, and to come by her living area and check on her, even after their daily duties had been completed. At the risk of failing to recognize one of these wonderful individuals we will not attempt to provide a by name list. We would be extremely remiss, however, if we did not express our profound gratitude to Della’s personal care providers, Ms. Marrie Smith, Ms. Charlotte Quinn, and Ms. Kimberly Prather who provided loving and professional care to her on an around the clock basis. They truly became like family members. And, Ms. Ashley Gorrell, who provided highly professional hospice support for over one year. Exceptionally competent, Ms. Gorrell is also a warm and caring individual and was looked on by Della with great affection. Della was a truly a kind, gentle and loving person. Her family was the center of her life and she will ever be missed by those to whom she was so precious and who so deeply cared for and loved her. Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2018, at the First Baptist Church of LaFayette. Interment will follow in LaFayette City Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.