Averill Wirgman Crewe passed away on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 at Manor House in Seaford. She was born on Aug. 2, 1922, in Washington, D.C., the only child of Stewart Lux Wirgman and Grace (Averill) Wirgman.
Raised in Chevy Chase, Md., Averill was a graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda and attended George Washington University, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She graduated from the Washington School for Secretaries and was employed by the Department of War and U.S. Steel in Washington, D.C., during World War II.
In 1944 Averill met and married the love of her life, William Penn Crewe. They were married for 62 years before his death in 2007. After raising their family in Atlanta, Ga., and Bethesda, Md., they moved to Seaford in 1984 to be near their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters. She became “Granny” to her daughter’s and granddaughters’ friends and was quick to give advice, even if it was unconventional.
Averill had a great love for life and enjoyed social events. She was a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, St. John’s United Methodist Church, and Seaford Golf and Country Club.
Averill was preceded in death by her husband, William Penn Crewe; and her daughter, Catherine Averill Dickerson. She is survived by her son, William Stewart Crewe (Sandra) of Avila Beach, CA; her son-in-law, Donald Dickerson of Seaford; her grandchildren: Kathleen Averill Schrader (Dennis) of Lewes, Virginia Crewe Hastings (Timothy) of Seaford and Matthew Crewe (Sasha) of Lake Forest, CA; her great-grandchildren: Carson Crewe Hastings of Seaford and Kassandra Hikaru Crewe of Lake Forest, CA. She was a great lover of dogs, including her beloved pets: Fuzzy, Cuddles, Frisky I and II; and her many grand-dogs and great grand-dogs.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14. 2020 at 10 a.m. at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Yates Funeral Home, a Parsell Family Funeral Home, Seaford.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Averill’s memory to PAWS for People, www.PAWSforpeople.org/donatenow/, or PO Box 9955, Newark, DE 19713 (as visits from the pets and their owners brought great joy to her life), or St. John’s United Methodist Church, 300 North Pine Street, Seaford, DE 19973.