Lilleas Valerie Slankard

Lil Slankard, 87 years young, passed away peacefully after a 4-month battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Although she fought fiercely and valiantly to stay with her family here on earth, our Heavenly Father called His precious daughter home on November 6th, 2022.
Lil was born on September 5th, 1935, in East Orange, New Jersey to Lilleas Adele and Victor Edwin Steinfels II. She was the oldest of 5 children and their only daughter. She enjoyed playing sports, taking road trips to the beach, dancing and making her own clothes.
In 1956, Lil married John Coffey in New Jersey. John’s career path led them to California, and Washington before they finally settled in Grand Prairie, Texas where Lil resided for most of her life. Lil raised 4 children and somehow found time to bowl, play golf, bunko and keno with friends and neighbors. She enjoyed being a Wrangler, a street chairman for Nottingham Neighbors and danced a couple of times a week at Senior Centers with her many dear friends. Lil also enjoyed keeping score at the Byron Nelson and Colonial golf tournaments. Lil refused to allow life to be boring. From modeling Beeline clothing in home fashion shows to winning dance contests, she could not sit still. She even did the twist on stage with Chubby Checker. She lived her life with intention and passion and rarely allowed anything to slow her down.
Lil obtained her realtor’s license in 1977 and she continued selling homes until her recent health decline. She was competitive and never did anything halfway. She won many awards including placing in the top 25 realtors out of 4 states. She truly loved what she did! It brought great pleasure knowing she helped clients find the house of their dreams! Besides her family, Lil’s pool and yard were among her top prized possessions. It did not matter how cold or hot it was, she would spend endless hours even after dark making sure everything looked just right!
In 1984, Lil was chosen to be one of the torch bearers for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and she proudly carried the torch down Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie. She had a special place in her heart for all veterans, loved our country and enjoyed talking about the sacrifices and experiences she and her family faced throughout the wars. Lil knew what it was like to sacrifice for others. Throughout her life, she gave up some of her own dreams to help and care for others. She did this NOT because she HAD to but because that’s who she was. She gave to others in so many ways!
Lil loved celebrating holidays with her family! She would always dress up for Halloween, take her grandkids to Easter Egg Hunts and loved to set up her Christmas village and trains for everyone to enjoy! She was also a very PROUD Grandma! It brought her so much joy attending her grandkid’s school performances, sporting events, and graduations! She loved and cared deeply for her family! Whether she was called Lilleas, Lil, Sis, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, Neighbor, Smiley or Duckie she was loved by all.
Lil was preceded in death by her parents, Lilleas and Victor Edwin Steinfels II, her children’s father John Coffey and her dear granddaughter Crystal Drennan. Lil is survived by her 4 children, Tarissa Coffey, Susan Orth (Gerry), Robert Coffey (Sha), Crissy Thorp (J.D.), grandchildren, Savanna, Candice Kostyniak (Michael), Ryan Orth (Michelle), Blake Orth (Marie), Mason, Dylan, Payton, Nikky and Fiona, great grandchildren, Sareya, Trayne, Iverson, Kai, Aaliyah, Weston, Walker, Ryland, Benji and Erik and has 2 more great grandbabies on the way! Lil is also survived by brothers, Vic Steinfels III (Joan), Ronnie Steinfels (Debbie), Richie Steinfels (Annette) and Billy (Wayne) Steinfels (Darleen) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
We’d like to sincerely thank Community Healthcare of Texas Hospice for the compassionate loving care they provided to Lil during her final days. Lil’s Celebration of Life will take place at 1:30 pm Sunday, December 4th at Wade Funeral Home located at 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, Texas 76013. The Celebration of Life will be available to be viewed live online by accessing the link provided on the Wade Funeral Home website.

Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to Community Healthcare of Texas, Hospice House Downtown, 1111 Summit Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, www.chot.org, 817-870-2795. Please provide Lil Slankard on memo line of check, online or over the phone.