If you look up at the night sky, you will see a bright new star shining down on us all. Patricia Trepper, beloved mother, wife, sister and friend to so many, passed peacefully in the evening of April 15th in Wilmington, Delaware, under a glorious full moon. She was 98 years old.
Born in Wilmington in 1923 to Marion Eugene Crumlish and Elizabeth Anne Gibney, Patricia and her family grew up in Carney’s Point, New Jersey, where her father worked as a chemical engineer for DuPont. The oldest of nine, Patricia’s nurturing spirit blossomed at a young age as she helped raise her younger siblings. These loving traits of kindness, patience, compassion and caring would define Patricia’s vibrant personality throughout her life.
Patricia graduated in 1941, at the top of her class, from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, where she starred in the leading roles of several Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, including “Patience”. After graduation, Patricia became the lead singer in a New Jersey Big Band, Ken Janney & the Penguins, singing popular love songs and jazz standards.
It was at her job as a chemical analyst for DuPont’s Jackson Lab where Patricia met the love of her life, when she dropped a beaker instead of a handkerchief and caught the eye of a handsome young Chemical Engineer, Edward Trepper. Ed had won a new automobile at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, and Patricia had an iron, so they pooled their treasures and married in 1944. Patricia retired and they began their family, raising five loving and devoted children. Patricia and Ed shared love, laughter and life’s many milestones until his passing in 2004.
Patricia loved to travel. Ed’s work as an engineer took the couple on wonderful adventures throughout Europe and they later enjoyed road trips through the American southwest and tropical getaways to Hawaii and Jamaica. Proud of her strong Irish heritage, Patricia introduced Ed to Ireland and the two made many return trips to the Emerald Isle. Deeply knowledgeable about traditional Irish poetry and music, she impressed even the locals when she took to the stage to sing and recite in the village pubs.
Anyone who knew Patricia was awed by her intelligence, wit, humor and knowledge of obscure facts. Her ability to ace every category on her favorite television show, “Jeopardy!” continued even close to her passing.
She was the oldest, and most widely-read, member of her neighborhood Book Club, where she offered keen insight and firsthand accounts into long-ago parts of history, from The Great Depression through World War II. Her mind was always churning, always ready to learn new things.
Patricia’s love of reading never waned, even into her late 90s when she began to suffer from debilitating pain. She read up to three novels a week, mostly British crime novels and historical fiction. Each morning, she read the local and national news on her iPad, stopping frequently to Google anything she needed to know.
Patricia was a friend to people of all ages and backgrounds. She always wanted to know your personal back story, always deflecting attention from herself and onto others. She made you feel as though you were the most important person she’d ever met, and her deep interest came genuinely from her heart. Her favorite adage was, “Always walk in each other’s shoes”. Don’t be quick to judge. Have compassion. Be kind.
Patricia is predeceased by her husband, Edward, son, Thomas, and many of the Crumlish family. She is survived by her children, Kathleen, Robert (Wilda), John (Leslie) and Beth, her sister, Betty Gene Mercer, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, her beloved cat, Teagan and countless friends to treasure her memory.
Burial will be private. In keeping with Patricia’s wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at a date to be determined.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Season’s Hospice at Wilmington Hospital, Dr. Mark Garcia, Dr. Greg Mote, Nicole Scott, NP and Dr. Jeff Guarino for their care of this remarkable woman.
Donations may be made in Patricia’s honor to:
Seasons Hospice Foundation, 8537 Solution Center, Chicago, IL 60677
Winterthur Museum and Gardens
Condolences
Thank You
Your online condolence will appear once approved by our site administrator.