Kathleen Stowe Manns of Selbyville, DE (formerly Wilmington, DE) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a brief illness on July 13, 2023. She was born in Darby, PA in 1952 to John and Agnes Stowe (Higgins) and raised in Bethel Township, PA where she attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School and Notre Dame High School. She graduated from Neumann University with her Bachelors and Master’s degrees.
Kathy was deeply devoted to her faith and served as an advocate for Catholic education. She started her teaching career at Holy Saviour St. John Fischer School in Linwood, PA in 1983. After moving to Wilmington, DE, she joined St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School in 1985 first as a teacher, coach of the softball team and advisor to the science Olympiad team, eventually becoming vice principal. She retired to the beach in 2018 but quickly started a “part time” role teaching middle school at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Berlin, MD. Kathy became the interim principal at MBS in December of 2019 and served until 2021 helping the school adapt and adjust to the challenges of Covid in education. She retired again but was a continued presence in Catholic schools serving as a substitute teacher at SMM, MBS, and Saints Peter and Paul in West Chester, PA until her illness.
She loved Wildwood, shelling at the beach, and her Philadelphia Phillies, but the most important aspect of Kathy’s life was her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to take them on adventures and bring magic into their world.
Kathy is survived by her husband of 41 years, Geoffrey Manns, her son Edward and his wife Denise, her daughter Jennifer and her husband Heath, and her beloved grandchildren, Caleb, Tessa, Nora, and Collin. She is also survived by her brother Charles and his wife Sara as well as her niece, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Kathy had a way of making friends that became family and leaves behind many that will miss her greatly.
A Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 7 Sharpley Road, Wilmington, DE 19803. Interment will follow at St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery, Chester Heights, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kathy’s honor to any of these schools listed, as they were very near and dear to her heart; Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 11242 Racetrack Rd, Berlin, MD 21811, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, 1327 Boot Rd, West Chester, PA 19380 or St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School, 7 Sharpley Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.
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