Julia L. Sidwell

Julia L. Sidwell, age 106, of Port Penn, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at Broadmeadow Nursing Home. Born in Wilmington, DE on December 13, 1908, Julia was the daughter of the late W. Kirk and Bertha (Hayes) Simmons. She made her career as an executive secretary with the Du Pont Company and retired after 35 years of dedicated service. Strong in her faith, Julia was a longtime member of the Port Penn Presbyterian Church and in 2006, was honored by the New Castle Presbyterian Church with the Outstanding Older Adult award. She had a deep appreciation for politics and history and was a founding member of the Port Penn Civic Association and Historical Society and chairwoman of the Wilmington Republican Committee and the 29th (MOT) District. Active in her community, Julia taught dance for many years and was a member of the Port Penn Ladies Auxiliary, the Helping Hands Society, Everfaithful Class and First State CB Club, where she was known as Twinkle Toes. In 1986, she began writing a weekly column for the Middletown Transcript called the Port Penn Potpourri which she authored for 7 ½ years. Julia was an avid Phillies fan and in her leisure time enjoyed relaxing on her front porch, playing Bingo, Keno, Wildstar and cards and listening to music. She was known to savor an occasional O’Douhl’s or Heineken and appreciated a good crab cake. Julia looked forward to car trips to the countryside, her scratch off tickets and most of all, visits from Ella. She was caring, loving, organized, full of wisdom and always conducted herself as a lady. Her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor will be very deeply missed by all who knew her. In addition to her parents, Julia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William S. Sidwell; son, John Lattomus; and a cousin, Maude Coles. She is survived by her grandchildren, Zinet Kalais and Cherene Popp (David); great grandchildren, Josh (Amy), Bradley, Tyler, Leah (Billy), and Richard; daughter in law, Betty Lee Lattomus; cousin, Fred Freeman and his family; and Darlene Moody and Jimmy Rausch, whom she loved as grandchildren. The family would like to thank Dr. Mary Ann Connor of Van Buren Medical Associates and the entire staff of Broadmeadow, especially the activity department, for the kindness, loving care and respect they provided to Granny during her stay there. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday morning, December 12, 2015, at the Chapel of Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am. Interment will follow in the adjoining memorial park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Broadmeadow Activity Fund, 500 S. Broad Street, Middletown, DE 19709 or to the Port Penn Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 171, Port Penn, DE 19731.