Birth date: Jul 28, 1940 Death date: Mar 11, 2020
Florist Note- Please deliver any floral arrangements to the Lewes Funeral Home on Monday by 3 PM. Ruth Evelyn Cecil "Lynn", age 79 , of Lewes, DE passed away in her sleep on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at her late residence.. She Read Obituary
Dick, Rob & Ryan,
Since the day that Lynn and Dick were married, we have enjoyed their friendship greatly. Lynn was great fun and always hospitable on our visits to their home in Wilmington as well as on our vacations in Lewes. We celebrated at weddings of our children, and we mourned the loss of Richie. Now we mourn the loss of Lynn. She has left us with very happy memories.
Don and Nancy Kiddoo, Whippany, NJ
Eulogy for mom
Thank you all for coming here on this solemn occasion to say goodbye to my beloved mother, Lynn Cecil. Rob, Richie and I were very lucky to have her for a mother. She was loved by so many people, but only we three got to call her mom.
Not long ago, my wife, Nathalie, and I were discussing a friend who died suddenly, and she said to me, “We are not much in this world are we? We are born. We get an education, find a job, find someone to love, raise a family, retire and then suddenly, we are gone…”.
I said “Yes, dear, and that’s if everything goes well!”
My mother had many hardships along the way, and many crosses to bear, which she did without ever complaining, but overall, she was quite lucky and really did have a life well lived. The family she was born into, was not at all well to do, and often it was a strain making ends meet, but there was love and there was faith and there was community. There’s actually an interesting story about how my grandfather couldn’t figure out how to afford a clarinet for my mother to play in the middle school band. He ended up skipping lunch for over a year to scrape up the money to pay for it. The reward for his sacrifice was that he got to see his daughter learn her instrument and then dump it as soon as she got into high school because “the band is for nerds”.
One of the hardships my mother had, was losing her father when she was only 16. It wasn’t easy, but fortunately she had big brother, Lee, who accepted his role well as man of the house. I don’t think anyone would have dared give my mother a hard time with big, handsome 6 foot 4, Lee always there, not that she needed protection. My mother was quite popular and a great dancer, in fact they were almost all great dancers at P.S. DuPont High School class of ’58. Some of her classmates were regulars on American Bandstand that was shot nearby with Dick Clark in Philadelphia. She had a wonderful high school experience living half a block away from school on 35th street.
She went on to the University of Delaware doing her undergraduate degree and receiving a scholarship to do a Master’s in French there as well. She commuted from Wilmington all but one or two of her semester’s because that was the only way to afford it.
My parents actually met through my Uncle Lee who was a fraternity brother with my father at Kappa Alpha. My father came by the house one time to visit when he was in his twenties and my mother was about 11 or so. She begged him for a ride on his motorcycle (an old Norton) which he reluctantly agreed to, and much to her dismay he rode only down the back streets and alleyways, which ruined her plans to be seen by all her friends. They met up many years later when my father was a widower with a sick child and by that time the nine-year age gap no longer seemed like much.
My mother did student teaching at Brandywine High School, which is the alma mater for both me and my brother and where my lovely bride of almost thirty years is currently teaching. She later took over my father’s insurance business when he got into politics. My father had been working at DuPont, but wasn’t really happy there, and another fraternity brother, Les Ridings, convinced my father to leave there and join him in the insurance industry. Les later convinced my father to go into politics. My grandmother said to my father, “First he gets you to do insurance, then he convinces you to go into politics…what’s next robbing banks?”
My mother did very well in the insurance business which also worked well with her being able to adjust her schedule to make time for family, including raising children, community organizations, helping my father’s political career and even being able to take summer’s off to be in Lewes Beach with only occasional trips up north to take care of business. My mother was in many ways ahead of her time including figuring out the “work life balance” that so many people talk about t
Dick & Family, all members of the Cecil Family are in my prayers! I have had the pleasure of knowing Lynn and Dick for many, many years, mainly through first, NALU, and subsequently NAIFA functions in Delaware, National Meetings around the county and social functions in all three DE counties. Lynn was a very serious and well qualified Life Insurance Underwriter and Estate Planning Specialist. Whenever Lynn, Dick and I travelled to National NAIFA Meetings, we always had at least one dinner together. I remember the meeting in San Francisco.........after a long day of meetings, we were having dinner at a Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant..........I ordered squid soup whereby Lynn had a very off color remark that made everyone at the table laugh for a very long time. Lynn was like that........a very serious side when it came to work along with a very funny side at appropriate times.
May everyone have the STRENGTH you need for TODAY and the HOPE you need for Tomorrow!!
In Deepest Sympathy,
Chuck Landon
Lewes, DE
My deepest condolences to Dick and all of Lynn's family and friends. Lynn was a true professional in every sense of the word. Quick wit, focused and industrious, and devoted to her family.
To Dick, my friend and work colleague at both the Insurance Department and Blue Cross, the 2 of you were a powerful and formidable duo. May the warm embrace of all of the wonderful memories created by you and Lynn during your lifetime together sustain you and comfort you in the days ahead. Her legacy will endure in the memories of your children and grandchildren.
Peace to you all.
Dana Shreve
Dear Dick So Sorry to hear of Lynns passing.Childhood friend from Second Ave . Claymont. ohs 59. Allen W. Garvine.
Dear Dick,
I'm so sorry to hear about Lynn's passing. May the support of your family and friends help you through this sad time.
A pleasure knowing Lynn and Dick for many years thru Tri County and NACO. Always very friendly and great person. Praying for family for peace and comfort.
