Winifred P. Primo

Winifred P. Primo, age 93, of Hockessin, DE, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2013. Winifred Thompson Primo was born March 28, 1920, in the Bahama Islands; soon after, she moved with her family to Florida where she lived for the next two decades. Mrs. Primo graduated as class valedictorian from Carver High School, Delray Beach, Florida. She received a BA degree with highest honors from St. Augustine’s College, North Carolina with graduate work at Columbia University, Wayne State University, and the National College of Education. Mrs. Primo also attended the University of Delaware’s Academy of Lifelong Learning. While married to the late Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr., Mrs. Primo lived in several communities around the country. Upon her husband’s calling in 1964 to become the vicar and later rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Mrs. Primo and her family moved to Wilmington. After being home with her children while they were growing up, Mrs. Primo worked in Wilmington for the Employment Security Commission. They left for Detroit in 1969 where the Primos served another St. Matthew’s Church. Fr. Primo was then called to be Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Chicago in 1972. Mrs. Primo taught for many years at Washington Elementary School, Harvey, Illinois. After retirement in 1985, the Primos returned to Wilmington for Bishop Primo’s service as Interim Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware. Mrs. Primo’s volunteer work included being a board member at St. Michael’s Day Nursery, Layton Home and the YWCA; a member of the AAUW’s Garden Club; school PTAs; a lector at The Cathedral Church of St. John’s; and a mentor at Heritage School. Mrs. Primo is most proud to have been associated with the Summer of Respect program at St. John’s. She was the Honorary Chair of the Quintin E. Primo, Jr. Lecture Series. Mrs. Primo has received many awards for her volunteer work including recognition from the Diocesan Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS), Rochester, NY, and the Amelia Layton Founder’s Award, Wilmington, DE. Winifred is pre-deceased by her loving husband, The Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr., her baby daughter, Olivia Wilhemina Primo, who died shortly after birth, and her sister-in-law, Margaret Priscilla Ernestine Primo. Winifred leaves behind her: daughter, Cynthia Primo Martin, her husband, Joshua W. Martin III, granddaughter, Lori Heather Mitchell, her husband, Kenneth, great granddaughter, Carter Isabella Mitchell, step grandchildren, Alexis and Victoria Martin; son, Quintin E. Primo III, his wife, Diane and their children, Franchesca Simone, Quintin E. IV and Reid Preston; daughter, Susan Primo Davis, her husband, Roosevelt Davis and their children, Gabrielle Louise and Thomas Quintin. Winnie also leaves her relatives on both the Primo and Thompson sides, and, her many dear friends in all communities where she has lived. Friends may call from 6 pm until 8 pm on Friday evening, December 13, 2013 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at the Episcopal Church of Ss. Andrew and Matthew, 719 Shipley Street (Shipley Street at Eighth Street), Wilmington, DE, where a second visitation will be held from 9 am until 9:45 am. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew Organ Fund, at the address listed above.