Virginia Beach – Marie Louise (M’Lou) Sellery Bond departed this life on December 10, 2021 at Sentara Leigh Hospital at the age of 91. M’Lou was born September 20, 1930 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to Edward Noble Sellery of Kincardine, Ontario, Canada and Aileen Katherine Heffernan-Jeffries Sellery of London, England and Perth, Western Australia.

M’Lou was pre-deceased by her husband of 68 years, Robert James Bond and her sister Penelope S. Harrell. She is survived by sister Lauren B. Vaughan; daughters Holly Suzanne Bland (Mark), Laura Leigh Seymer (Jackie) and Lucy Ann Bond; grandchildren Megan E. Bond-Watts, Benjamin B. Bland (Jennifer), Matthew Bland (Christina), Marlo Van Kula (David), Sydney E. Hinkle and Sara Winters; great-grandchildren Leon, Samson and Jonah Bland; Patrick, Julia, Mason and Ava Bland; Abigail and Nicholas Van Kula; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A well-traveled woman, M’Lou grew up in Sydney, came to the U.S. west coast as a teen and moved again to Norfolk where she and Robert met as teenagers. As a young Army couple, they were stationed at Ft. Eustis, in Alabama, in Germany, and at Fort Knox, KY. Later Robert’s civil service jobs took them to Indianapolis, Virginia Beach, Richmond, and back to Virginia Beach where they remained except for five years in Naples, Italy.

M’Lou was a Girl Scout Leader and Kempsville Girl Scouts Neighborhood chairperson 1961-1962, member of the Kempsville Women’s Club, longtime member and past president of the Carolanne Farm Garden Club and the Garden Club of Greater Kempsville. She was also a volunteer in the pharmacy of Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters 1969-1971, and a member of Thalia Hope Circle. While living in Naples, M’Lou took so many friends to the local archeological sites that she became known as the American guide and her guests received the standard guided tour discount.

She enjoyed her family and friends, her garden and her dachshunds. A good conversation over a cup of coffee always brightened her day. M’Lou will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew her.

The family thanks the nurses, recreation therapist, care attendants, and administrators of The Terrace at Beth Sholom Memory Care Unit for their compassionate and loving care for M’Lou during the past year. We also thank the nurses and physicians at Sentara Leigh Hospital 1East for their compassionate care during her final days.

Memorial services for M’Lou will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 16 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 5181 Singleton Way, Virginia Beach (Kempsville). A reception will follow. Directions to the location will be provided at the service.