Louanne Handley, age 91, of Wilmington, Delaware died Monday October 7, 2024.
She was predeceased by her husband Earl Handley, her parents James W. and Ila K. Paulson, and her sisters Mary Jo Lewan and Dorothy Harrison.
Louanne is survived by her children F. James Handley and his partner Marie (Amor) Peirce and her son Amadeus Avery, Helen Eisenbeis and her husband Scott Eisenbeis, David Handley and his wife Loraine Carapellucci, and Chris Handley and his longtime companion Candace Riker. Louanne is survived by five grandchildren, Alex Eisenbeis, Jeffrey Eisenbeis, Monica Handley and her wife Kathleen McGuire, Claire Handley, and Renee Handley.
Louanne was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, loved by all. Her kindness, care, and love will be dearly missed.
Born in Kirtley, Wyoming in 1933, Louanne attended the University of Wyoming and then the University of Colorado, where she met the love of her life, Earl Handley. They married in 1955 in Oregon, and moved to Washington DC where Earl worked in the US patent office, and Louanne worked at the Pentagon. James and Helen were born while Earl was finishing law school at George Washington University.
Upon completion of law school, Earl and Louanne moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in 1961, where Chris and David were soon born. They remained Delaware residents for the rest of their lives.
Louanne loved children. She read parenting books and took classes to be the best mother that should could for her four children. She served as a Sunday school preschool teacher at Westminster Presbyterian Church for multiple decades. She also taught kindergarten at Zion Lutheran Church for several years. After Louanne became a grandmother, she spent as much vacation time as she could with her grandchildren, and provided childcare for them as well.
Louanne and Earl had a great passion for square dancing, which apparently is “marriage enhancing”. They remained active dancers into their late 80’s. Louanne played piano and supported her children’s music lessons and concerts without fail.
Louanne loved to have her entire family at Bethany Beach. She loved to shuck and eat blue crabs, and was known to painstakingly pick the fresh crab meat for her grandchildren. She was a great cook and baker, famous for her seafood lasagna, her pies, and her cookies. She was also infamous for her Jello Salad.
Visitation will be held at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3710 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington DE on Sunday November 3nd at 1:00 PM. A celebration of Louanne’s life will be held following the visitation at 2:00 PM.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
