Obituary for Mary "Jeanne" Wilhelm
Mary (Jeanne) Wilhelm went to be with the Lord, peacefully on March 28, 2023. She was the second child and only female born to John and Emma Wilhelm on April 19, 1923 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Her brothers, John and Louis, both preceded her in death.
Jeanne lived a very interesting life. Her father passed away at an early age and her mother recognized that she had lots of energy that needed to be correctly channeled and believed she needed to join the convent. So as a young teenager she joined the Sisters of Christian Charity. This was a semi-cloistered order in Pennsylvania.
While there she went to school and earned her teaching degree and ultimately, her Master’s degree. For 40 years she taught Latin and Biology in Catholic Schools in Pennsylvania. She retired from teaching and ultimately, decided she could do more of the Lord’s work outside of the convent. She moved to Luther Towers in Dover, Delaware to be closer to her brother, Louis, and other family members. She also became active in Holy Cross Catholic Church in Dover.
During this time she also became very active in the Catholic Prison Ministry at the Smyrna, Delaware Men’s Prison. She was a faithful servant who truly enjoyed ministering to the men behind bars and helping them spiritually for years.
Jeanne’s health began to deteriorate with age and she was no longer able to drive safely. At that time family decided it was time to move her closer to her oldest niece in southern Delaware. She then became a resident of Seaford Center, in Seaford, Delaware where she resided until the Lord called her home.
While there Jeanne loved to listen to her CD player with Christian music. On a whim one day her niece found an Elvis Presley CD on the clearance rack and bought it for her, not knowing if she would like it or throw it away. Surprisingly, Jeanne LOVED it and loved listening to it often. Of course that led to the purchasing of other Elvis CDs for her. Jeanne was not a worldly soul and she believed Elvis was a wonderful man who loved the Lord. Fortunately, she never knew some of his difficult life history. ….But if Elvis is in Heaven, maybe he and she are now singing praises to the Lord!
Jeanne would have turned 100 years old on 4/19/2023. Before she died she was upset she was not already 100. Her oldest niece, Cathy, believes Jeanne probably has already had a serious talk with the Lord as to why she could not have stayed on earth until she had that 100 birthday!
A Celebration of Life will be held 11:30 AM, Wed., April 19th, at Crossroad Community Church,
20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown, DE 19947. Interment will be 11:00 AM, Friday, April 21st, in Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover, DE.
Family Suggests donations in her memory to Holy Cross Tuition Fund, 631 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901
Life End Services by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc., Dover. To share a fond memory of Jeannie or to offer a condolence to her family, please visit ambruso.com.
Jeanne lived a very interesting life. Her father passed away at an early age and her mother recognized that she had lots of energy that needed to be correctly channeled and believed she needed to join the convent. So as a young teenager she joined the Sisters of Christian Charity. This was a semi-cloistered order in Pennsylvania.
While there she went to school and earned her teaching degree and ultimately, her Master’s degree. For 40 years she taught Latin and Biology in Catholic Schools in Pennsylvania. She retired from teaching and ultimately, decided she could do more of the Lord’s work outside of the convent. She moved to Luther Towers in Dover, Delaware to be closer to her brother, Louis, and other family members. She also became active in Holy Cross Catholic Church in Dover.
During this time she also became very active in the Catholic Prison Ministry at the Smyrna, Delaware Men’s Prison. She was a faithful servant who truly enjoyed ministering to the men behind bars and helping them spiritually for years.
Jeanne’s health began to deteriorate with age and she was no longer able to drive safely. At that time family decided it was time to move her closer to her oldest niece in southern Delaware. She then became a resident of Seaford Center, in Seaford, Delaware where she resided until the Lord called her home.
While there Jeanne loved to listen to her CD player with Christian music. On a whim one day her niece found an Elvis Presley CD on the clearance rack and bought it for her, not knowing if she would like it or throw it away. Surprisingly, Jeanne LOVED it and loved listening to it often. Of course that led to the purchasing of other Elvis CDs for her. Jeanne was not a worldly soul and she believed Elvis was a wonderful man who loved the Lord. Fortunately, she never knew some of his difficult life history. ….But if Elvis is in Heaven, maybe he and she are now singing praises to the Lord!
Jeanne would have turned 100 years old on 4/19/2023. Before she died she was upset she was not already 100. Her oldest niece, Cathy, believes Jeanne probably has already had a serious talk with the Lord as to why she could not have stayed on earth until she had that 100 birthday!
A Celebration of Life will be held 11:30 AM, Wed., April 19th, at Crossroad Community Church,
20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown, DE 19947. Interment will be 11:00 AM, Friday, April 21st, in Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover, DE.
Family Suggests donations in her memory to Holy Cross Tuition Fund, 631 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901
Life End Services by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc., Dover. To share a fond memory of Jeannie or to offer a condolence to her family, please visit ambruso.com.