Julie A. Shenk

Julie A. (Hollingsworth) Shenk, a resident of Maris Grove in Glen Mills, PA, entered the Kingdom of Heaven to live with her Savior eternally on December 16.  Mrs. Shenk passed away from complications of the coronavirus.

Born in Wilmington, DE, on October 26, 1940, Mrs. Shenk grew up in Kennett Square, PA, and graduated from the Kennett Consolidated School District in 1958. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with minors in special ed and art from Millersville University in 1962. She met her husband, Larry, at Millersville.  They were married on April 13, 1963, in Kennett Square, PA.

Mrs. Shenk never taught but devoted her life to raising their two children and volunteering in schools, church and the community. Her dedication to public education of over 20 years focused on maintaining and improving the quality of schooling for children in Delaware’s Brandywine School District and the state.

Her volunteering included the Darley Road Parent Teachers Association; President, Darley Road Home and School Association; Vice President, Brandywine District Citizen’s Advisory Council and CACs at Burnett Middle School, Claymont High School, Hanby Middle School and Concord High School.

Her experience and interest in education continued as a member of the Brandywine School District Board of Education (1985-1995), serving as Vice President for one year and President the final year.  She also served on the Board of the Delaware Secondary School Athletic Association, the state’s School Board Association (DSBA), a member of the Delaware Professional Standards Council and appointed to the Foreign Language Commission by Governor Tom Carper.

For many years, Mrs. Shenk was Chairman of Worship at Atonement United Methodist Church, Claymont, DE, a position that included decorating the sanctuary for Christmas. She was also a member of the church’s vocal and bell choirs and a director of a bell choir.

Her wide-spread community volunteering included serving as a member of the Board of the Claymont Community Center, the Robinson House and Darley Society.­­­­­­­­­­ She was also involved in preserving the Claymont Old Stone School, that dated back to the early 1800s, as an historic artifact.

Following 44 years in Delaware she and her husband moved to Maris Grove in 2013.

Mrs. Shenk loved flowers. As a seventh-grade student she was the Grand Champion of the annual Kennett Square Flower and Garden Show, accumulating 60 ribbons. She carried that passion through her adult life at her homes and then Maris Grove’s Terrace Gardens and Rose Court Garden.

Among her other hobbies were sewing, counted cross stitch, needle point, knitting, crocheting, playing cards. At Maris Grove, she was a member of the Blanket Circle and Coloring Club.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Shenk is survived by a daughter, Debra L. and husband Michael Mosel (Wilmington, DE); a son, Andrew D. Shenk, wife Renee and children, Audrey and Tyler (Garnet Valley, PA). She was affectionally known to her grandchildren as “Mimi”. Other survivors include, a brother, Bruce and wife Lois Hollingsworth, (Uniontown, OH); a sister-in-law, Betty Hollingsworth (Export, PA); nieces Susan Hollingsworth and Amy Hollingsworth; nephews David Hollingsworth and Brian Hollingsworth.

Mrs. Shenk is the daughter of the late Helen (Greene) and Dwight Hollingsworth. A brother, Stephen D, died in 2016.