Pecolia Valentine Love at 98 years old was the matriarch pillar of the Love family. She transitioned from this life, on December 3, 2021, into eternity to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by her loving family and passed away peacefully.

Pecolia, or 'Coya', as she was affectionately known, was born September 3, 1923 and raised in Richmond, Dinwiddie, and Portsmouth, Virginia. Her parents, Mylady Batts Love and Joseph Love raised 9 children who along with Pecolia were educated in the Virginia school system.

Pecolia and some of her siblings frequently visited New Jersey and some of her older sisters and brothers made it their home. Around 1954, Pecolia left Virginia with some of her younger siblings to live in Atlantic City, NJ. Pecolia, as her mother had died much earlier, along with some of her older sisters, became a 'mother' to all. While working at a local Five & Dime she also began working as a chambermaid for many local hotels.

When she left New Jersey for NY she continued working for 30+ years in the hotel industry, the last being Howard Johnson's from which she retired. In NY she purchased a beautiful home in Manhattan where she lived with her two brothers, Joseph (Joe-Joe) and Al, until they predeceased her.

Following a decline in health, in July of 2019 she moved to Poughkeepsie, NY to live with her niece, Kecia D. Reid, and then moved to Fishkill, NY, to live with her sister, Helen Watson and family, until she passed.

Pecolia was predeceased by her parents, and siblings: Catherine Ingram, Leola Booker, Martinia Hines, Vernice Glass, Shirley Love, David Love, Floyd Love, Joseph Love, Alfred Love, and Samuel Love.

She leaves to cherish her memory her remaining 3 sisters: Helen Watson, Evelyn Reid and brother-in-law, Perman, of Fishkill, NY, and Delores Love of NY, NY. Many family members considered Coya a second mother /grandmother and this is a double loss. A host of nieces, nephews, and great-grand nieces and great-grand nephews and great, great-grand nieces and great-grand nephews will forever be changed by her presence and now her absence. Her loving and care-taking ways will forever live in our hearts.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 11 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m., followed by interment at Wappingers Falls Rural Cemetery.

For those unable to attend, services will be livestreamed. For online tributes and livestream access, you can visit Pecolia's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.