Patricia (Tricia) Diane McCarty (Ashby)
Patricia (Tricia) Diane McCarty (Ashby) was born on December 26, 1954, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada and went home to meet the Lord on July 14, 2023 in Milford, Delaware being held by her loving daughter Adrielle Benini (McCarty) and husband of 46 years, Glenn Wayne McCarty.
Patricia Ashby grew up in beautiful Vancouver Island with her parents and brother Ralph Ashby. She loved the outdoors -especially the beach in the summertime- and spent her time exploring nature and venturing on the water in her father's 1903 registered vessel "The White Iris". After high school, Tricia attended University of British Columbia where she majored in recreational studies. When university was not in session, Tricia loved to travel and, in the summer of 1976, she found herself in Maui Hawaii on a backpacking trip. This is where she caught Glenn (Wayne) McCarty's eye and he quickly won her heart. Wayne was in the military and the two lovebirds devoted themselves to frequent letters as they navigated their long-distance relationship. Shortly after, the two were married in May of 1977 at the Brechin United Church in British Columbia, Canada and enjoyed the traveling life that the military brought to them living in Mississippi, Guam, Florida, and Republic of Panama.
In 1986 in sunny Panama City Florida, Tricia and Wayne adopted their only child, Adrielle Autumn, and it was truly love at first sight. Tricia instantly devoted herself to being an amazing mother and frequently told others "Mom is the best name I could ever have". After a few more short duty stations, the trio landed in Dover, Delaware where Wayne was stationed at Dover Air Force Base. After Adrielle started school, Tricia began working for the Caesar Rodney School District as a para educator and devoted herself to serving the students she worked with.
Tricia was a do-er. If you wanted something done, everyone knew Tricia would help take care of it! Outside of her countless hours serving the staff and students of the McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in the Caesar Rodney School District, she also had active roles in her church, Calvary Assembly of God. Over her 30+ years of faithful membership at Calvary, Tricia served on various volunteer teams including participating in drama productions, teaching Sunday School and VBS, serving on the greeting team each Sunday, and most recently serving as a core member of the church's food pantry ministry. Her love of Christ shone through in all she did, and she was a true hometown missionary- always spreading the love of God to anyone she met and inviting them to join her at Calvary.
In her free time, Tricia loved spending time traveling with her daughter Adrielle, reading for hours on end on her patio, cuddling with her puppies, and playing with her three grandsons Carter, Parker, and Cooper. Tricia was a devoted grandmother and cherished every minute she spent with her grandsons filling their time with laughter and fun, educational experiences, and ensuring that she instilled Godly values into their lives.
We will always remember Tricia for her beautiful smile and infectious laugh, her playful sense of humor, her green thumb, and the way in which she connected with everyone she met. When cancer came knocking on her door, Tricia didn't let it define her. She fought with grace, tenacity, and grit throughout her almost 11-year battle and was an inspiration for so many who followed her story. She was the true definition of "warrior", never giving up and facing her battle head on and with a smile at that.
Patricia Diane McCarty is survived by her loving husband, Glenn Wayne McCarty; her daughter and best friend, Adrielle Autumn Benini (McCarty) and her husband William David Benini; her three grandsons, Carter William Benini, Parker Glenn Benini, and Cooper David Benini; and her two precious puppies, Elfie and Ralphie. She is also survived by numerous cousins and great cousins (Harvey and Ashby families) in Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington.
She was preceded in death by her father, David Ashby (1978); mother, Marjorie Ashby (2001); brother, Ralph Ashby (2023); cousin, Peter Ashby (1947); cousin, Barbara (Holmes) Graham (2021); and cousin, Joe Holmes (2022). She will truly be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in her honor to the Calvary Assembly of God Food Pantry (POC: Margaret Young (302) 697-7776) or to the scholarship foundation set up in her name to bless local students whose lives have been affected by cancer (Team Trish Scholarship Foundation, teamtrishde@gmail.com (PayPal).
Memorial services will be held 6PM, Monday, July 24, 2023 at Calvary Assembly of God Church, 1141 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. Friends may call from 4:30 ~ 6PM.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com