Mary Julius Kostel, age 103, of Clifton Forge, Virginia died on December 9, 2011 at the Brian Center, Low Moor, VA.

Mary, daughter of the late Demetrios and Eleni Koutrovidis Julius, was born on February 2, 1908 in Cleveland, Ohio.

At the age of six, she travelled with her parents when they returned to her father's farm of olive orchards in Gythion, Greece. She returned to the United States with her father when she was sixteen. She married James George Kostel of Clifton Forge on January 9, 1927, and has lived in Clifton Forge since her marriage. After her youngest son started school, she assisted her husband in the operation of Kostel's Restaurant in Clifton Forge until they retired.

She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and was active in the Episcopal Church Women of St. Andrew's. She was an avid gardener and spent much of her spring and summer days in her flower and vegetable gardens. Knitting, sewing, needlepoint and crochet were hobbies that she enjoyed from the time that she was a young woman. She was crocheting for her grandchildren just a few months before she died. Her greatest joy was being with her family and watching her grandchildren grow and become productive members of their communities.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sons, Harry Kostel of Newport News, VA and Peter Kostel of Clifton Forge; her brothers, Aristide Julius, Oreste Julius, and Nicholas Julius of Athens, Greece; and her sister, Niki Tranakos of Decatur, GA.

Her survivors include her son George and his wife Helen Elite Kostel of Clifton Forge; two daughters-in-law, Lee Everitt Kostel of Williamsburg, VA and Margaret Crisman Kostel of Harrisonburg, VA. She is survived by eight grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren, namely; Kathryn Kostell Litten, husband Jay, and children Carrie and Jonathan of Bridgewater, VA; Mary Elaine Kostel, husband Gregory DiMeglio, and sons Alexander and Philip of Arlington, VA; James Kostel, wife Amy and children Cooper, Kate, and Jack of Dacula, GA; Laura Kostel Fahey, husband Matthew and sons Quinn, Peter, and Harry of Rye, NY; Elizabeth Kostel, and daughter Natalie of Blacksburg, VA; George Everitt Kostel , wife Claudia, and daughter Ann Louden of Alexandria, VA; Peter Kostel, wife Ellen, and children Peyton and Allison of Cumming, GA; and David Kostel, wife Sandra, and son Marcus of New York, NY. Also, she is survived by six nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 516 McCormick Blvd, Clifton Forge, VA. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor. Pallbearers will be Jay Litten, Gregory DiMeglio, James Kostel, George Kostel, Peter Kostel, and David Kostel. There will be no formal visitation. However, friends may call anytime at Nicely Funeral Home, 405 Alleghany Street, Clifton Forge. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Clifton Forge Food Pantry, P.O. Box 361, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.