Reet Kilkson

Reet (Paju) Kilkson, passed away on the morning of March 10, 2022. Reet was born in Rakvere, Estonia and fled with her family to escape occupation during World War II. After living in refugee camps in Germany and Czechoslovakia, Reet, and her family, immigrated to Poughkeepsie, New York. After graduating from high school in Poughkeepsie, Reet took her curious, detail-oriented mind to Brown University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

After college, Reet began working as a chemist for the DuPont Company in Delaware. Later in her career, she worked in the library at Wilmington Friends School. Students checking out or returning books were met with her warm smile, easy conversation, and gentle ribbing if there were late fees. After Friends School, Reet enjoyed a decade of volunteer work with the Food Bank of Delaware.

In Wilmington, Reet joined the Estonian community and accumulated a large circle of friends and met her husband, Henn Kilkson. Together, Reet and Henn raised two children, Tiia and Eero, traveled the world, became active members in dance groups, and later shared the joy of being loving grandparents. During this time, Reet also was an active member of the Garden Club of Wilmington. Throughout her life she loved gardening and stayed passionate to her hobby, even if the poison ivy did not love her back.

Memories of Reet will be cherished by her family and friends, and she will be missed.
Reet is preceded in death by her husband Henn; Father, Edgar Paju; Mother, Marta Paju. Survivors include her sister Anne Oaks (Harold); children Tiia Maxwell (Kevin) and Eero Kilkson; and her grandchildren Taylor, Austin, and Courtney. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Sunrise Senior Living in Wilmington who made her last years comfortable.

A celebration of Reet’s life will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 at 11:00AM, family will receive starting at 10:00AM. Interment will be private.