Caroline Mairs Short, Red Cross retiree, Realtor

Caroline Mairs Short, a lifelong Delaware resident, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Caroline was born in Wilmington Dec. 6, 1927, to the late Mary Jane (May McCall) and Thomas Mairs.

She graduated from Wilmington High School in 1946, where she served as senior class vice president. Upon graduation, she was recruited by the Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross as the assistant to the director of the Junior Red Cross. She held various positions, both volunteer and professional, throughout her career. Caroline’s positions included fundraising, service to military families, director of transportation and community services, and director of disaster services; she retired in 1988 after 43 years of serving as director of volunteer services. Following her retirement from the Red Cross, Caroline moved to Rehoboth Beach, working with Coldwell Banker Rehoboth Beach Realty for over 25 years. 

Caroline started many community programs over the years, and her most satisfying were I’m Okay for the elderly, which was started as a security program in many senior housing buildings, and also The Pet Therapy Program, in connection with Wilmington SPCA, which brought pets to hospitals and nursing homes to interact with the residents. The very first visits were to Elsmere Veterans Hospital, which not only started to allow pets, but they actually adopted their own kittens.

Over the years, Caroline was recognized with many awards. In 2000, she received the prestigious Red Cross A Plus for Delaware award for outstanding volunteer work for fundraising efforts in Sussex County by organizing and chairing the annual Red Cross Nouveau Beaujolais Wine Tasting and Action for 20 years. As a realtor, in 2008, she was awarded a membership in the International Diamond Society.

Caroline has participated in many state and local organizations, which included Delaware Volunteer Coordinators, Wilmington Women in Business, The Pilot Club of Delaware, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540, and the Prince of Piedmont Lodge.

In addition to her parents, Caroline was predeceased by her husband, James Short Sr. “Big Jim”, after 60 years of marriage; her infant son, Thomas Mairs Short; her beloved daughter, Sherri Short Eastburn; her extraordinary son, James Short Jr. “Jimmy/Shorty”; and her brother, Tommy Mairs.

Caroline is survived by her family, Lynn and Anthony Iorii, Cynde Andress and Steve Ademski, Nancy and Phil Durney, and Page Holt. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael (Juliet) Iorii, Brian (Lisa) Andress, Jamie (Clint) Thomas, Karie (Larry) Hart, Kristin (Damian) Hamlin, Nicole Durney, Michelle Iorii, Phillip Durney III, Casey (Brian) Millard, Courtney (Kyle) Moore, and Casey and Conner Bell; her great-grandchildren, Isabella and Sophia Iorii, Scarlette and Sean Andress, Lilly, Piper and Avery Thomas, Ashton and Dylan Hart, Melia, Zoey and Bryson Hamlin, Peyton Saienni, Wade Millard, and Campbell and Sutton Moore; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her beloved granddogs.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 4, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Hwy., New Castle.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Caroline’s memory to Humane Animal Partners, degives.org/orgs/humane-animal-partners; or All Saints’, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

Visit Caroline’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.