Daphne Craven Reese

Daphne Craven Reese, wife, mother, sister, cousin, friend, lifelong volunteer and philanthropist died peacefully Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at home in Centreville, DE. Her last moments, like the rest of her life, were full of family and love. She was 74.

Daphne brought joy, humor and kindness to everything and everyone. She had a penchant for showing up in costume at her children’s schools and throwing dinner rolls at black tie dinner parties. She always had a box prepared to ferry wounded birds to Tri-State Bird Rescue and a rescue kit including space blankets and flares to support any potentially stranded driver. She survived being struck by lightning in 2016. Upon telling her daughter Natalie the news, her second comment was how excited she was to have that included in her obituary. She was a tall, graceful, elegant lady who had a great sense of style and color. One friend recently said that when Daphne got to heaven, the standard white might soon be replaced!

Born in Wilmington, Delaware to David Stuart Craven and Wilhelmina Laird Craven, she grew up surrounded by siblings and cousins. She attended Tower Hill School, followed by the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York and Wickham Rise in Washington, Connecticut – where she graduated in 1965. She attended several colleges before returning to school later in life. She resolved that her children would not go to college before she earned her degree and ended up graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in educational studies in 1994 – the same year that her son, Lee, graduated from high school.

Daphne met her future husband, Philip, in the lead-up to making her debut. She asked him to be an escort to one of her debutante events and the rest, as they say, is history. In November of 1969, Daphne and Phil were married in Wilmington at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred before making their first home in Honolulu where Phil was stationed in the army. After a blissful 3-year stint in Hawaii, they moved to Atlanta, GA. While in Atlanta, they had their two children, Lee and Natalie. In 1983, they returned home to Wilmington due to Phil’s career and a desire to be closer to family.

In Wilmington, Daphne flourished. She was active in her kids’ schools, her church and a myriad of community activities. She especially enjoyed volunteering at West End Neighborhood House where she and the staff became dear friends and helpmates. A strong supporter of early education, she was active both locally and nationally in Reading is Fundamental and supported the United Way of Delaware’s Library Program for pre-K through third grade and their “Get Delaware Reading” program. She especially loved her time as a director of both the Tatnall School and Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. She loved birds and installed bluebird boxes and feeders widely around her home. Dogs were central to her life and she was a major supporter of Canine Partners for Life. At the end of her own life, Daphne had one of their companion dogs, Carnie, who never left her side.

Family was at the core of who Daphne was. As a descendant of the Lees of Virginia, she became involved in the Society of the Lees of Virginia before ultimately becoming the president. She also became the Executive Director of the du Pont family’s Genealogy Office and Cemetery Company where she had been a volunteer for years. Additionally, she was a member of the Residence Committee at Hagley Museum on the Brandywine north of Wilmington. The hallmark of her leadership was her warmth and ability to make everyone feel welcomed and included in these family enterprises. She built deep relationships, fostered connections between cousins, organized gatherings and reunions and supported family members in times of celebration and loss.

She is survived by her husband, Philip, of 52 years, her children, Lee and Natalie (Kleon), brothers David (Kathy) and Sidney (Rhumdoul) and sisters Marina and Phoebe (Larry). Her parents predeceased her.

The Reese family is very thankful for the wonderful care provided to Daphne by Nina Fisher Balzarini, RN, and the team she led over the last few years. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to Jewish Family Services for their Compass Program led by Dr. Maria D’Souza, Delaware Hospice and to Dr. James Ellison and the Swank Memory Center at Christiana Care Health System.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests donations to West End Neighborhood House, the Tatnall School, Inc, Episcopal High School or Canine Partners for Life.

Interment will be private. A memorial service is being planned for a future date.