Anna S. Wooleyhan

Anna Wooleyhan, 91, of Middletown, Delaware, passed peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2025, surrounded by the love and comfort of family at her home.
She was born on December 23, 1933, in the Voshell house near Summit, Delaware. Her family, including sisters Marjorie (Raymond) Lane and Edith (Ronnie) Carroll, lived on several area farms before settling on Ratledge Road. Anna was a graduate of Middletown High School.
On March 21, 1951, Anna married the love of her life Edgar "Pete" Wooleyhan. Together, they built a remarkable life and legacy, starting with just $40 and a rented herd of dairy cows. Anna often said she "worked like a hired man" in those early days. Her determination and devotion to her family laid the foundation for a life filled with hard work, love, and enduring memories.
Anna will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. Her greatest joy was caring for her family and the people she loved. She is survived by son, Richard "Dickie" (Doris) Wooleyhan, daughter, Phyllis (Donnie) Hastings, cherished granddaughters, Jennifer (Dave) Goff and Jessica (Bill) Somers, and three adored great-grandchildren, Andrew, Abbey, and Raylan. Anna's extended family and lifelong friends held a special place in her heart, and she treasured every moment spent with them.
A lover of country music, Anna and Pete regularly attended local dances and concerts at Sunset Park with close friends, Thelma & Bucky Biddle. She enjoyed watching her favorite country artists on TV, attending live performances, and even embarking on a Country Music Cruise.
Anna was a talented seamstress, often making clothing without patterns, and she was known for her skillful wallpapering. Friends and family frequently turned to her for wedding dress alterations and home projects, which she tackled with enthusiasm and care.
Anna had an immense love for animals. On the farm, she helped milk the cows and bottle feed the calves. She cared for her house dogs (Lassie, Sam & Cindy), Pete's fox hounds, the ponies Charlie & Nellie, chickens, rabbits and many, many cats. She always knew where to find the barn cats' newborn kittens and welcomed her favorites into the house.
An avid gardener, Anna cultivated vibrant flowers and vegetables, often rescuing discarded plants from the greenhouse where she worked, breathing new life into them and brightening her home with their beauty. She also found joy in cooking, reading, and collecting clippings, magazines, and novels, filling her home with an enduring sense of curiosity and warmth.
Anna's legacy is one of love, resilience, and dedication. Her family and friends will forever carry her memory in their hearts, inspired by her unwavering devotion and generous spirit.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11am at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad Street, Middletown, DE. Friends may call from 10-11am. Following the service, burial will take place in Bethel Cemetery, Chesapeake City, MD.