Jean C. Ardis, community volunteer
Jean C. Ardis, 91, of Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. She was born Sept. 28, 1932, daughter of Roland C. and Minnie E. Chance (Hudson).
Jean graduated from P.S. DuPont High School, where she met Lee Ardis. Jean and Lee married in 1953 and raised three daughters, Sherrill Nurnberg (Carl) of Chadds Ford, Pa., Sandra Ardis of Media, Pa., and Sharon Rakowski (Mark) of Newark. Jean’s husband Lee passed away in 2021. She is survived by her daughters, as well as her sister, Evelyn Kimball of Christiansburg, Va., and her grandchildren, Joseph Nurnberg of Oaks, Pa., and Kaitlyn Rakowski of Apex, N.C.
Upon graduation from high school, Jean went to work at Monumental Life Insurance Company, where she continued to work through her early years of marriage. She then paused her career for several years and when her daughters grew older, she returned to the workforce, first with New Castle County and later the State of Delaware. Jean finished her career working at the Delaware House of Representatives.
Jean and Lee enjoyed many bus trips with lifelong friends and made new ones on every trip. She also treasured the friendships she made in the workplace, especially with the colleagues she served with at the end of her career.
Jean was a devoted wife, cherished mother, and a beloved grandmother. At the beach house, she was a dedicated gardener, tending to the flowers and plants that lined the front porch, accepting the compliments of the beachgoers passing by on the way to the boardwalk. In retirement, she also could be found watching the Eagles or Phillies on TV.
Jean believed in service to her community, and she left a mark as a volunteer at both ends of the state. She led many of the band booster fundraising sales at her daughters’ schools and served as chaperone on numerous trips. She also lent her time to various local and statewide political campaigns and organizations. When Jean and Lee moved full time to Rehoboth Beach in 2001, Jean served her new community in many ways. She was an active member of the town’s Village Improvement Association. along with holding office as recording secretary for many years with the Sussex County Republican Women’s Club. Her early fundraising experience was invaluable as she was instrumental in organizing successful events such as annual flower sales and dinners, where proceeds benefited local political candidates running for office. Her contributions and service to the party over four decades were recognized in 2011 when Jean was named Republican of the Year at the party’s annual convention.
Jean’s family would like to express their gratitude to her caregivers during her final days at the Newark Campus of ChristianaCare and Accent Care.
A private memorial service for the immediate family will be held at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online in Jean’s name to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 555 Croton Road, Ste., 111, King of Prussia, PA 19406, jdrf.org.
Visit Jean’s Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
