James T. Stewart

James T. Stewart, February 23, 1932 – May 1, 2025.
I am sitting in my "man cave" (my garage) counting the ships on the Delaware through a small opening in the trees. I used to have my good friend Jay Steel with me, but he has since passed. The thought of that makes me decide to finish writing my obituary.
It's finally here, I have been waiting for this day since May of 2018, the day my life changed, after losing my wife Mary Anne.
I was born at Wilmington Hospital on Feb 23, 1932, the youngest of three sons born to Joseph Lawrence and Emma Martha (Carter) Stewart. I lived in Holloway Terrace, New Castle, and attended Rose Hill elementary school. After my family moved to Old New Castle, I attended William Penn High School. I loved sports and lettered in football, basketball and baseball. I was voted the outstanding athlete of my class, but I was most proud of being legendary coach "Bill Cole's" first captain in football and basketball.
After graduating, I enlisted in the Army, serving fifteen months of war time service in Korea. I was honorably discharged at Fort Meade Maryland and then went to work for the DuPont Company in Carneys Point, New Jersey.
On January 5, 1957, I married my first and only love, the most beautiful girl in Old New Castle, Mary Anne Freebery, and we started a journey that would last 61 years.
We both retired in the 1980's and along with good friends Billy and Karen Hutton, purchased a second home in Dewey Beach, DE. Family and friends referred to this house as "Jersey Street." After a few years, we became sole owners and were able to spend more time there.
Mary Anne's sisters, Millie and Marg, niece Dyonne and her children Brittany and Stevie were there often. They also considered Dewey Beach a large part of their life. We had many friends from Old New Castle and the Dewey area spend time with us at "Jersey Street."
We did a lot of traveling and spent the month of March in Florida. I only have two things left on my bucket list and hope to fill one of those. I am a member of American Legion Post #30 in Wilmington Manor, New Castle DE. And I am a life member of VFW Post 7447 in Rehoboth Beach DE.
With my friend Father James Kirk doing the service, I became a Catholic in 2005 and a member of St. Peter's Church in Old New Castle. I am an avid fan of the Eagles and Phillies, but my first team was the Baltimore Colts, with my hero Johnny Unitas. I was in Canton, Ohio when Johnny (The Golden Arm) was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
Other than my mother and father, I was predeceased by my wife Mary Anne, my mother and father-in-law John and Mildred Freebery, my brothers Larry and Al, my sisters-in-law Millie Foster, Dee Dee Stewart, Ann Stewart and Jean Freebery, brothers-in-law Joe Foster and Joe Loureiro, nephews Albert Stewart (Bobbie), Tommy Stewart, and Joe Foster (frog), Danny Connor, great niece Katlyn Mentz, great nephew Joseph Donald Stewart.
I am survived by my sisters-in-law Margaret Freebery Loureiro and brother-in-law John Freebery, Stewart nephews and nieces Larry, Donnie (Cathy), Kevin, Doug (Mandy) and Chris, Lynn Carlton (Les), Allison Mentz (Jimmy) and Donna Crawford. Freebery nieces and nephews Dyonne Creek (Brian), John (Sue), Mike (Sandi), Teresa Potter (Ralph) and Christine. I also have many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
I have had a wonderful life, a wonderful wife and a great family. I have no complaints.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, 521 Harmony Street, New Castle, DE 19720 on Friday May 9th, 2025, at 11:30am. Friends may call at the church on Friday May 9th, 2025, from 10am-11:30am. Interment will be in the Glebe Cemetery.