Fay Whittle
June 18, 1928 - July 6, 2025
Fay Whittle, age 97, of Newark, DE, passed away on Sunday, July 6, 2025. She was born Grace Fay Maddy on June 18, 1928, in Boston, MA. She attended elementary school in MA until she was ten years old, and was active in school plays and dancing. Her father was employed by the Robert Gould Shaw estate in Newton, MA. Fay’s family, including her twin brother and sister born in 1932, traveled in Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas, and Maryland, visiting her father’s relatives after the hurricane of ’38. Fay attended schools in these states. Her family returned to New London, NH, where her father was employed by Shaw’s daughter, Christine Cates. Fay attended public schools in New London, was active in 4-H and sports, and took riding (with her favorite pinto pony) and dance lessons. The family returned to East Weymouth, MA, when her father changed employers, first working for Weymouth Art Leather and then Bethlehem Steel at Fore River Shipyard and Hingham Shipyard. Fay attended Weymouth High, where she was active in local theatre groups, and school sports. She was a leader in the East Weymouth Congregational Church youth group, Christian Endeavor, where she served as president. She traveled to Northfield Seminary for several summers with the Christian Endeavor groups from many states.
Fay graduated from high school in 1947 and worked at R.H. Stearns Co. in Boston, an upscale department store. In 1948, she wed Norman H. Whittle of Weymouth and moved to Providence where her husband attended Brown University. She worked for Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co. in Providence, attended classes at Bryant and Stratton, and was active in a sewing circle. In 1951, she moved to Wilmington, DE, where her husband was employed by DuPont. She began work with DuPont in the Polychemicals Department, and became involved with theatre and helped start the Limelighters Theatre Group at the DuPont Country Club. She was active in almost every stage of production: performing, props, make-up, costumes, program advertising, and public relations. She was awarded the DuPont Country Club Award for 1965.
Fay continued her active involvement with theatre at the Delaware Opera, working both backstage in make-up, costumes and props, and as a docent in their showcase houses. She was actively involved with the Junior Division of the DE Opera, which produced plays for children and families, again working on casting, make-up, costumes, props, public relations, and tickets. The Brecks Mill Cronies and the Arden Singers was also part of her life. She helped establish The Children’s Repertory Theater and was responsible for booking the touring part of the group into local schools to bring quality theater, under the direction of Marie Swajeski, to school children across the state. She actively participated as a witch when the troupe performed at the Governor’s mansion at the request of Gov. Pete DuPont and Mrs. DuPont. The Children’s Repertory Theatre evolved to become the well-known Delaware Children’s Theatre where she served on the Board of Directors. The E52 Players, which became the Chapel Street Players, saw Fay doing make-up, costumes, props, and tickets. She received the Marion Kusher Award for her work with this group.
In 1979, she became involved with the Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM), founded by Charles W. “Chuck” Colson in 1976, an organization that works with inmates, ex-offenders, youthful offenders, victims, and their families. For many years, she served as Volunteer State Coordinator for Delaware and Cecil County, MD and had received national awards from this group for her work. She semi-retired in July of 2001 but remained active as a consultant and worked with inmate families.
In 1981, Fay became one of the first volunteers at Family Court for a new program to help abused, dependent, neglected children. For 11 years, she volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
She served on the Delaware Center for Justice Board of Directors for 10 years, and in June 2001, she received the William A. Vrooman “Exemplar of Justice” Award for outstanding work with the organization.
In 2001, she established her own tax exempt, non-profit, 501-C-3 company, Prison Ministries of Delaware, Inc., in order to find funds for a Chapel at Baylor Womens Correctional Institution. She had been seeking a chapel for the residents of Baylor since 1990-91. Her efforts finally paid off and the chapel/multi-purpose building was constructed and opened in November 2008. The Emergency Fund helps inmates, ex-offenders, youthful offenders, victims and their respective families. The chapel at Baylor was named after Norman and Fay Whittle.
Fay had been actively involved in the United Methodist Church at the local, district, and conference levels. In 1995, she received the highest award the United Methodist Church gives to a lay person – the Denman Evangelism Award. Fay has also been actively involved with Church Women United for many years. Aldersgate UMC had 75 members when Fay and Norman joined in 1954 with Dr. Gerald Foster as the pastor. Fay was active as a pre-school teacher, Sunday school teacher, and in the United Methodist Women. They lived in McDaniel Crest for 11 years before moving to Fairfield in Newark in 1965. Here they joined Newark UMC where they became actively involved in the church activities. They became members of Peniel UMC in 1995 and were actively involved in the life of the church.
In addition to her parents, Fay was preceded in death by her husband, Norman, who passed in December 2006; and brother. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Christopher Henry, born in 1959, and Jeffrey Wallace (Denise K.), born in 1961; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Anne, Jeffrey Arthur, Jessica Erin, Jaclynn Marie, Juliet Anne, and Elliot Parker; sister, Loretta Goodwin who lives in Greenfield, NH; niece, Heidi Fay Flagg (Terr) and their 2 children, Justin and Alisha; nephew, Richard Goodwin, and his daughter, Anna Liese, who also live in Greenfield; sister-in-law, Pauline Maddy, and her 7 children who live in Pembroke, MA; great-granddaughter, Quinn Grace Fryberger; and great-grandsons, Philly and Cason.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Peniel United Methodist Church, 115 E. Market Street, Newport, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.
Sue Richardson
What a wonderful person, and beautiful soul Mrs Whittle had.
I wish the world had more Mrs Whittles.
With much love, Sue Richardson
Diana
Gonna miss you Fay you were a Beautiful Soul and I was happy to have met you years ago through the Kennard’s and then it was a pleasure to have taken care of you the last two years of your life.
Love Diana
Peggy Pepper
I will always remember Fay as a lovely and kind neighbor in Fairfield.
Kathy & Stewart Douglass
Jennifer, Our heart and prayers go out to you and your family.💕
Cathy and Steve Horgan
Our son Jake is a corrections officer at Baylor. I remember Fay giving Jake some great advice when he first began at Baylor. Fay always had a kind word and when speaking of the prison ministries you could tell she was a compassionate person. We were new to Peniel and Fay was very welcoming to us.
Kathleen o'Toole
“Aunt Fay” was a dear friend of my parents Lena & John O’Toole, and a beloved elder & example to my siblings and me. What a shining example of leadership ,discipleship, and faithful service to her family, friends and community!
Judith Bettinger
So very sorry to hear of Fay’s passing. She was a wonderful lady and a great help when I was performing in Delaware.
Cindy Mercer
I worked with Fay for years, mostly through her prison ministries work. She taught me a lot and listened too. Her caring spirit affected many people and she will be missed. Sending love to her family, colleagues, and friends.
Todd Richardson
She was a truly remarkable woman with a huge heart for everyone. I will really miss her.
Ann Osborne
I remember Mrs. Whittle fondly. My parents, members of Newark UMC & residents of Fairfield, knew her well & spoke highly of her. What a long life of commendable service with contributions to the arts & rehabilitation! She will be remembered well.
Aubrey Fisher
Mrs Whittle, a kind lady, always friendly and great conversation whenever we got to talk. Being her mailman for 13 years she and her husband were gracious and pleasant people to be around. She met my mother at church and in a conversation my mother found out Mrs Whittle lived in Fairfield, my mom said my son aubrey was the mailman in Fairfield. Mrs Whittle said our mailman’s name is Ohenry. The joke was the young kids hers included use to bug me hey mailman what’s your name. I said o Henry and that’s what she knew me by. After explaining to Mrs whittle she laughed at the joke. She was a great lady
Karen Peterson
I met Fay through her Prison Ministries work. She asked me to help her and others work to free a prisoner who had been wrongly convicted thirty years earlier. That effort was one of her many successes. Fay was a kind and gentle person who lived her faith. She was determined to make the lives of inmates humane. The naming of the chapel at the women’s prison for her and Norm was a fitting honor. She will be missed by those of us who loved her. May she rest in eternal peace. Her work on earth is done.
Sen. Karen Peterson (Ret.)
Jack Markell
When I served on the Delaware Board of Pardons, we often saw Fay advocating for mercy on behalf of many inmates. What a beautiful person. She helped so many people and always did her research. Condolences to the family.
Patti Christopher
I am sincerely sorry. I had the privilege of working and getting to know Faye with the League of women voters. Such a kind, dedicated woman. Heaven truly has an angel with them.
Mary Culley
Fay was one of the most exceptional persons I will ever know. My husband and I were neighbors of Fay and Norm on Hartford Place in Fairfield. Among her other remarkable, caring ways to reach out to persons in need, Fay was a safe haven for children whose parents may be incarcerated in the middle of the night. Fay would get the call at all hours, collect the children and bring them to her home for loving care and protection until arrangements could be made for them. A more generous, selfless person would be difficult to find. Thank you, Fay. Your good works set an example for all of us.
May God be with you,
Trudy I Downs
Words can not express how grateful I am to have had Fay in my life for so many years. I first met her in 1992 at the women’s prison in New Castle. She was always a joy to see. Her love for God was an insperation to so many. She impacted my life and the lives of so many of those who walked through the door of the Delaware prison system. I had just called her on the fourth of July and got the answering machine. I was hoping she would call me back. I am sad that I wont get to hear her voice again until we meet again in heaven. I know she is with Jesus and has no more pain. She is probably dancing with Norman and rejoicing that they are together again.
My sincerest condolences to all her family and friends for their loss. I’m sure she would want us to be celebrating the many years she spent with all of you. May you find peace in her going home. As she would always sign her cards and letters to “Peace”.
Alan Williams
Chris,
I had no idea your mother was 10-11 years older than my mother. What a rich life she had! I learned of this too late to make arrangements to be there. Sympathy to you and Jeffrey.
Donna Mirabella -Crescenzo
My condolences to Aunt Fay’s sons and family. I remember “Aunt Fay” at many Mirabella family gatherings over the years, what a sweet person she was, she will be missed.
Douglas Repetti
I had the good fortune to know Fay for many years as head of
Prison Ministries of Delaware.
She was a truly gracious and giving person who volunteered countless hours to help the incarcerated and their children with spiritually based programs.
Her memory lives on in the BWCI Chapel/Multi-Purpose Bld.