ASHLEY, Adele Lorraine Carter “Lolly”– age 79 of Greenville, DE died on February 17, 2011 at Stonegates Nursing Home. Lorraine was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the first child of Harry and Emily Carter. Shortly after her birth her family returned to their home in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Lorraine grew up in St John’s and was a graduate of the Prince of Wales College. A gifted athlete, she was captain of the field hockey and basketball teams in her junior and senior years. She married Dr. Patrick F. Ashley in 1954. After the wedding, they moved to Wilmington, Delaware where they raised a family, and shared their lives together.
Lorraine was a loving and exceptional wife, mother, and grandmother, and was affectionately known as “Lolly” by her family. Lolly never wavered in her unconditional love and support for her children and grandchildren. She took great pleasure in babysitting and caring for her grandchildren and attending all their events. Her interests included painting, sewing, knitting, traveling and playing tennis. Her remarkable oil paintings are treasured keepsakes for her children and grandchildren. A member of Wilmington Country Club, Lorraine was an avid competitive tennis and paddle tennis player. An outgoing and generous person, Lorraine volunteered for several organizations that supported medical causes. Lolly will be remembered for her sense of humor, stunning fashion style, competitive spirit, and fierce devotion to her family. She inspired her children to never give up and believed that if you set your mind to something and gave it your best, you would succeed. One of her favorite expressions was “There’s no such word as can’t.”
Lorraine was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Dr. Patrick F. Ashley. She is survived by her sisters Elizabeth Skjarum, Joyce Szilagy, and Barbara Rodgers, and her brother Calvin Carter, all of Toronto, Canada.
Lorraine is also survived by her daughter Dr. Adele Ashley-Axon and husband Dr. David Axon of Wilmington, Delaware; her son Dr. Robert A. Ashley and wife Dr. Anne Hayton of North Yarmouth, Maine; her son Patrick M. Ashley and wife Ann Barlow Ashley; her daughter Lisa M. Ashley; and her son Michael W. Ashley and wife Deborah Marine Ashley, all of Wilmington, Delaware. In addition she is survived by twelve grandchildren; Hillary, Shannon and Molly Axon; Emily Makynen; Blakely and Patrick “Trip” Ashley; Alexandra and Stefan Thomas; and Lillie, Samuel, Hutton and Benjamin Ashley.
The Ashley family would like to thank the staff at Stonegates for their loving care of Lolly. A memorial service will be planned in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to: Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, NY, NY 10008-0780 (donations@michaeljfox.org).
For online condolences, please visit www.chandlerfuneralhome.com.