Celia Wrede
Celia Wrede passed away on September 20, 2021, in the loving care of her husband, Steve. Born in Little Rock, Celia her mother, Billy Jean Ouellette, and younger sister, Lani Greer, lived everywhere from Massachusetts to Hawaii, but Delaware was her true home. She arrived in Dover as a teenager, and it would be where she returned with her young daughter, Devon. It was also where she reconnected with an old high school acquaintance, Steve Wrede. After a six-week courtship, Steve flew to Florida on Valentine's Day to propose. They were married on June 5, 1982, and welcomed their daughter, Rachel, nine months later.
Her family and friends will remember her as a passionate woman, eager to try new projects and ready to learn, witty and energic with a laugh that filled the room. She had a brief and successful career in real estate, but it was her creative mind that had her always looking for ways to share her visions. Celia taught herself to cut tile, triple sponge paint a bathroom, and restore old furniture into works of art; she designed and edited swim team yearbooks for her daughters' swim team. There was no limit to her talent, and her daughters often find themselves taking on projects, channeling their inner Celia. She was always willing to listen, lending an ear when necessary, and offering timeless advice if needed.
As empty-nesters, Celia and Steve enjoyed their ability to travel. Celia made her first international trip to visit Rachel during her semester in London. She enjoyed it so much that she got Steve to join her in Germany while Devon and their grandson Harley were living there for a year. They took pleasure in finding new restaurants between perusing European antique shops, always on the hunt for the perfect artifact to bring home. However, one of the activities they loved most was spending time at auction houses and antique shops throughout Delmarva. Not just because they were always finding cool new things to display in their beautiful home, but because they enjoyed each other's company more than anything. Rarely did a week go by that they didn't tell their daughters of the adventures they were having, until Steve forgot to tie a chair down to the back of his truck. And no one ever mentioned the chair again (until now).
After showing signs of early onset dementia, Celia was officially diagnosed in 2016 and placed in the care of Delaware Hospice in March 2019. She is survived by her husband of nearly 40 years, Steve; her two daughters, Devon Hoerner and Rachel Meier, and their husbands, Jason and Adam; her three grandchildren, Harley, Ashton, and Sydney; her sister, Lani and brother-in-law, Rob; mother-in-law, Nancy Wrede and surrogate father-in-law, Andy Ramult; sister-in-law, Wendy Rezac and her husband Jim; brother-in-law, Evan Wrede; as well as her niece and nephews, Colby Smith, Zack and Jake Rezac, and Mason and Garrett Wrede.
Her family are eternally grateful for the love and support of Delaware Hospice and ask that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to Delaware Hospice. At this time, no service is planned.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com