Mary Ellen Winkler, devout Catholic
Mary Ellen Winkler, 80, of Angola By the Bay, Lewes, died peacefully, surrounded by family and loved ones Friday, July 13, 2018.
Born in Lafayette, Ind., Oct. 18, 1937, Mary Ellen was the daughter of the late Theobald Adair Day (known as "Tad"), a Midwestern newspaper editor and public relations advisor, and Genevieve Ward Day, an elementary school principal. She had a lifelong commitment to the Catholic Church, and shared a deep living faith with those who truly knew her. An orphan, Mary Ellen graduated from the Academy of the Holy Cross in Washington, D.C., and then joined the Ursulines Order in St. Martin, Ohio, where she served until leaving the order, settling back in the D.C. area, where she and her husband, George met and married. She considered all the Brown County Ursuline Sisters as her loving sisters.
After receiving a graduate degree in religious studies, she became a professional lay minister at Saint Ann Catholic Church in Colonial Heights, Va., for 15 years. After retiring as director of religious education in 2010, she and her husband returned to their home near the Delaware seashore. She enjoyed the quiet of home life by reading, drawing, and being with children and grandchildren when they visited.
She is survived by her devoted husband, George E. Winkler of Lewes. She was the youngest of four siblings, and is now also survived by her sister, Patricia Day Aichele of Portsmouth, N.H. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jack T. Day, and her sister, Molly O. Lyons.
She is survived by two loving children and four grandchildren, Jay Winkler and his wife Raquel Winkler and their sons Samuel J. and Daniel J. Winkler of Moorestown, N.J., and Julie Ann Vargo and her husband Steven Vargo and their daughter Olivia and son Owen Vargo of Richmond, Va.
She is survived by six stepchildren and their family members: George T. and Kelli Winkler, James and Tammy Winkler, Scott and Kat Winkler; and great-grandchild McKayla, Jillian Winkler, and the three Sherman daughters, Meghan, Hanna and Britta, Deborah Winkler, John and Myla Winkler and sons John Michael and Keyser, Brian and Janice Winkler and son Brendan and daughter Maria, Lisa Garcia and her daughters, Brittany Lee and Domonique, Mark Winkler and daughters, Hannah, Leah, and stepdaughter Rachel.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews, Carl Aichele, Genevieve Aichele, Mary Dee Aichele, Kate Aichele, Robert Aichele, John F. Saguto, Vincent Saguto and John C. Day, and all of their loving family members.
Mary Ellen wishes to be remembered as a Christian woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Please "remember me as loving you."
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 20, at 11 a.m., at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, at 1 p.m., after the Mass. Arrangments are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mrs. Winkler's memory to the Ursulines of Brown County, 20860 State Route 251, St. Martin, OH 45118.
Please visit Mrs. Winkler's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
