Caroline M. Short's Obituary
Caroline Mairs Short, a life-long Delaware resident passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 27, 2024. Caroline was born in Wilmington, Delaware on December 6, 1927, to the late Mary Jane (May McCall) and Thomas Mairs.
She graduated from Wilmington High School in 1946, where she served as Senior Class Vice President. Upon graduation, she was recruited by the Delaware Chapter of The American Red Cross as the assistant to the Director of Junior Red Cross. She held various positions, both volunteer and professional, throughout her career. Caroline’s positions included Fund Raising, Service to Military Families, Director of Transportation and Community Services, Director of Disaster Services and she retired in 1988 after 43 years serving as Director of Volunteer Services. Following her retirement from the Red Cross, Caroline moved to Rehoboth Beach working with Coldwell Banker Rehoboth Beach Realty for over 25 years.
Caroline started many community programs over the years and her most satisfying were “I’m Okay” for the elderly that was started as a security program in many senior housing buildings and also The Pet Therapy Program, in concert with Wilmington SPCA, which brought pets to hospitals and nursing homes to interact with the residents. The very first visits were to the Elsmere Veterans Hospital which not only started to allow pets but actually adopted their own kittens.
Over the years, Caroline was recognized with many awards. In 2000, she received the prestigious Red Cross “A Plus for Delaware” award for outstanding volunteer work for fund raising efforts in Sussex County by organizing and chairing the annual Red Cross Nouveau Beaujolais Wine Tasting and Action for 20 years. As a realtor, in 2008, she was awarded a membership into the International Diamond Society.
Caroline has participated in many state and local organizations that included Delaware Volunteer Coordinators, Wilmington Women in Business, The Pilot Club of Delaware, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge and the Prince of Piedmont Lodge.
In addition to her parents, Caroline was predeceased by her husband James Short, Sr. (Big Jim) after 60 years of marriage; her infant son, Thomas Mairs Short; her beloved daughter, Sherri Short Eastburn; her extraordinary son James Short Jr. (Jimmy/Shorty); and her brother, Tommy Mairs.
Caroline is survived by her family: Lynn and Anthony Iorii, Cynde Andress and Steve Ademski, Nancy and Phil Durney and Page Holt. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Michael (Juliet) Iorii, Brian (Lisa) Andress, Jamie (Clint) Thomas, Karie (Larry) Hart, Kristin (Damian) Hamlin, Nicole Durney, Michelle Iorii, Philip Durney III, Casey (Brian) Millard, Courtney (Kyle) Moore, Casey, and Conner Bell; her great-grandchildren include Isabella and Sophia Iorii, Scarlette and Sean Andress, Lilly, Piper and Avery Thomas, Ashton and Dylan Hart, Melia, Zoey and Bryson Hamlin, Peyton Saienni, Wade Millard, Campbell and Sutton Moore; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and her beloved grand-dogs.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE, where friends may call beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. Dupont Hwy, New Castle, DE 19720.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations in Caroline’s memory to Humane Animal Partners, https://www.degives.org/orgs/humane-animal-partners, or All Saints, 18 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS BY 12:00 NOON ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024, TO OUR LEWES LOCATION.
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