Alice Elizabeth Witterholt, age 91, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at her home.
Alice is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years, Vincent, and her six children: Diane Rapp (John), Mark Witterholt, Valerie Patricia (Tom), Dr.Ken Witterholt ( Barbara), Alison Cradler (Michael), and Monica Fuller (Scott). Alice was the matriarch of a clan including fourteen grandchildren: Michael Rapp, Julia Rapp, Ken Patricia, Tim Patricia, Robert Witterholt, Christina Witterholt, Nick Cradler, Valerie Cradler, Matt Witterholt, Elizabeth Jane Fuller, Ben Fuller, Isabel Cradler, Eli Fuller and Amelia Cradler, a great-grandson Noah Alarif and her brother, Benjamin Zaborowski, and sister-in-law, Veronica Arth, as well as a large, loving circle of relatives and friends.
She was born in New York City to Benjamin and Isabel Zaborowski, never losing her penchant for style and substance. She was an excellent pupil and student leader at Grover Cleveland High School, where she met her future husband, Vince. She attended Brooklyn College (Alpha Delta Phi sorority) and Hunter College. She worked as a statistician for E.R. Squibb, and later in the Purdue University Agronomy Department. She retired from Immaculate Heart of Mary church office in 2001 after 27 years.
Alice’s organizational and artistic skills extended beyond home and office. She enjoyed creating gardens and loved flowers. She is a past president of the Garden Gate Garden Club, served on National Federation of Garden Clubs committees, and was a Flower Show Judge. As President of the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs in 2008, she conceived and spearheaded the development of the the Memorial Garden for the Families of the Fallen at the Dover Air Force Base – a statewide project that grew to a national effort to honor our service members and the sacrifices of their families. Her legacy of love and healing through flowers and gardens was shared in service to our country.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE 19803. A Viewing will be held Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. Interment will follow the mass at St. Joseph on The Brandywine Cemetery, 10 Old Church Rd., Wilmington, DE 19807.
In memory of Alice, donations may be made to the Memorial Garden for the Families of the Fallen, c/o Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs, P.O.Box 103, Middletown, DE 19709.
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