WILBY, DELICE "DEL" - Delice "Del" Esther Wilby (nee deWolf) of Fredericton entered peacefully into eternity on February 27th, 2013, in her 93rd year. Her husband of 61 years, Thomas Wilby, predeceased her in 2003. Born in London, England, on April 30, 1920, to Marie (Beard) deWolf and Emanuel deWolf, she was the youngest of three daughters. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Anna Wilby (Harry), of Fredericton; six sons, Christopher (Jackie) of Pompano, Florida; Thomas Jr. (Linda) of Fredericton; Edward (Helen) of Oldsmar, Florida; Joseph (Barbara) of Fredericton; Daniel (Connie) of Carlsbad, California; Louis (Gisele) of Fredericton; Helen (Comeau) Wilby and Don Ouellette; 18 grandchildren and11 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Isabelle Wilby; several nieces and nephews including Jeannie, Lynn, and Sara of South Africa. She was predeceased by her parents, and sisters, Leonie Parks and Jean Migdoll. She served in the British Army during World War II as an administrator working with top-secret military documents in London, during which time she met Thomas Wilby, with the R.A.F. Ten days later, June 6, 1942, they were married on what was their second date. On a mission over German occupied France, Tom, a tail gunner, was ordered to bail out of the plane. He was subsequently captured and held prisoner for several months. When news reached the family, it was Christmas time, 1942, and all that was known was that he was missing in action and presumed dead. With the war raging in England, the fate of her husband unknown, and a baby on the way, Del boarded a ship for Canada at the urging of her husband’s family. On June 3, 1943, she became the first of the World War II “war brides” to give birth at Fredericton’s Victoria Public Hospital. After a daring escape, with the help of the French resistance, Tom was back in London eager to see his wife. That very day Del’s parents received word from Canada of the arrival of a baby boy. In gratitude for Tom’s safe return, he was named Christopher after the Patron Saint of Travel. As a former prisoner of war, Tom was free to return home to Fredericton and within several days he, Del, and their new baby were united. Del often acted as hostess and cashier at the family restaurant, the Imperial, on Carleton St. She found solace from her busy family life in reading and going to the movies. She had a passion for travel and would venture, solo, to all parts of the world – Kenya and South Africa, to visit her sisters and their families; England, Italy, Brazil, Spain and Bermuda. In the early 80s she and Tom took a nostalgic trip to France, retracing the escape route Tom had taken so many years before. Del was known for her adventurous spirit, vivacious personality, and keen sense of humor – traits she retained to the end. Del’s last hours were spent with all of her seven children and their families. The family is grateful to the staff of Thomas Hall for their loving and devoted care, a true extension of her family
Visitation will be held at Bishop’s Funeral Home, 540 Woodstock Road, Fredericton on Friday, March 1st 2013 from 6 to 9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 2nd at 12:05 PM from St Dunstan’s Roman Catholic Church with Father Bill Brenan officiating, assisted by Father John Jennings. Interment to take place in the Hermitage Cemetery at a later date. A legion tribute will be held on Friday evening at 6:45 PM. In lieu of flowers donations in Del’s memory may be made to the IWK or the Fredericton SPCA. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be sent through www.bishopsfuneralhome.com