Christel Ann Dean

Christel Ann Dean passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, November 18, 2025, just five days shy of her 70th birthday. She was born in Nurnberg, Germany, on November 23, 1955, and moved with her family to Hopewell, VA, in 1962. While she had dual citizenship, she became a US Citizen in 1967. Christel was the daughter of the late Clarence Elza Dean and Ingelore Seitz Dean Sanders; and was also preceded in death by her husband, Howard Magee, Jr.; and her niece, Lori N. Mingloski.

Christel was awarded her Special Education Diploma from Hopewell High School in 1974, and received her confirmation at Nazareth Lutheran Church at age 14. Christel enjoyed activities with the Girl Scouts and was known for her marketing savvy for selling the most cookies during the annual sale. She had a very competitive spirit about her. She was a lover of all pets especially her dogs and enjoyed the occasional fish tank or canary too.

She enjoyed her time working at the local McDonald's or Hardee's or in the cafeteria of DuPont Elementary School, a school she attended as a child.

She is survived by her brother, Charles "Chuck" Dean (Sherrie), of Silver Spring, MD; sister, Betty Dean Blodgett (Stan), of Midlothian, VA; sister, Karen Dean Mingloski (Craig), of Colonial Heights, VA; step-brothers, James Sanders (Angela), of Celina, OH, and Charlie Sanders, of Colonial Heights, VA; nieces, Shannon Wade Cutler, Sara Dean Huffman (Scott), Emily Sanders, and Anna Mingloski; and nephews, Will Mingloski, Alijha Sanders, and Jeremiah Sanders, all of whom she loved dearly. She also leaves behind her special companion, Raymond Lee "Butch" Stanley, Jr.

A private burial next to her parents at Appomattox Cemetery will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Christel's memory may be made to the Hopewell Animal Shelter, 507 Station Street, Hopewell, VA https://hopewellva.gov/350/Animal-Services-Unit.