Serena Dee Lucy, age 64, of Virginia Beach, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 in her cherished home in the presence of loving family members.
She was born on April 11, 1961 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA., a daughter of William Henry Iobst and Florence Eleanor Iobst. She was predeceased by her parents and her younger brothers Bill Iobst and Bryan Iobst. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Terrence H. Lucy and daughter, Gina R. Lucy, her brother Raymond Iobst and sisters Jan Saunders, Linda Pascoe and Sue Shuler. Serena is also survived by many nieces & nephews who loved her dearly.
She had lived with her families in Norfolk, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA. She began a life of love & happiness being married to Terrence Lucy at Norfolk Botanical Garden on June 15, 1985. She enjoyed experiencing nature, travelling the world, hiking, biking, yoga, live music, reading, relaxing on the beach, spending time with her family and friends, being friendly to cats and ice cream.
Serena was a 1979 graduate of Norview Senior High School and Norfolk Technical Vocational Center, both in Norfolk, VA. She also received a Magna Cum Laude Associate in Applied Science Degree with a major in Computer Programming from Tidewater Community College in 1986. After a standout career in software development and programming, while being employed by multiple companies, Serena retired from Trapeze Software Group in March of 2022.
Serena was very generous with her time and resources in helping others over the years. She helped care for her mother, Florence Iobst, and her father-in-law, Melvin Lucy, during each of their declines in health and subsequent passings. She made many monetary contributions to the Union Mission Ministries. She also loved volunteering through the Virginia Beach Animal Control and Adoption Center with the “Crazy Cat Lady Crew” at PetSmart to assist in taking care of the many cats up for adoption and helping them to attain forever homes.
She and her family remained very thankful to The Donoway Center for Cancer Treatment and Prevention, as well as the doctors and staff of Virginia Oncology Associates, Sentara Virginia Beach, Sentara Norfolk and Medi Home Health & Hospice for assisting with her medical care and comfort during her illness and declining health in 2024 and 2025.
As per Serena’s wishes, a small private group celebration of life is being planned in April of 2026. Additionally, interested parties can visit Norfolk Botanical Garden in her memory on her birthday, April 11, 2026, and enjoy the 60 beautiful garden settings there. In lieu of flowers or cards, donations or contributions to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, the Union Mission Ministries and/or Norfolk Botanical Garden in her memory would be genuinely appreciated. Please post your fondest condolences to the family on the Cremation Society of Virginia website.