Della N. Ward

1947 - 2024

News Story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Della N. Ward, a teacher who made learning memorable and stayed in touch with students for years after they left her classroom, died Thursday at Elizabeth Scott Community in Springfield Township, where she lived the last three years. She was 76.

She had Alzheimer's disease, her sister, Debra Thomas, said.

Parents of former students visited her at the facility, said Jane Wilde, a longtime friend.

"She left such a huge impact on these people," Mrs. Wilde said.

Ms. Ward retired in 2014 with the closing of Sylvania Franciscan Academy. She'd been associated with a version of the school for much of her career. The academy opened in 2002 in a building across from its former site on the campus of Lourdes University. It was an outgrowth of St. Francis Education Center, opened by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania in the early 1970s. Lourdes University took over academy operations in 2009.

"She had a passion for teaching," Mrs. Thomas said. "She wanted to give each child a way to succeed. A lot of times she would tutor them after school.

"She had a love of children, to open the world to them, not only math, but the theater," her sister said. "She believed every child was unique and should be able to reach their special potential."

Lessons in ratios and proportions might include giving each student a package of M&Ms or Skittles and having them sort the colors, Mrs. Wilde said.

In addition to academic subjects, she helped supervise students as they took part in The Blade-sponsored School Stock Contest. She oversaw the debate and quiz bowl teams.

She also organized plays for eighth graders - and plays that parents acted in - and had T-shirt made for each new production.

"She knew how to engage everyone," Mrs. Wilde said. "She was creative. She did scavenger hunts with students.

"You wished you had her for a teacher," she said. "She was amazing."

After her students advanced to high school, she often attended their plays or other events. She went to their weddings and baby showers.

"They didn't even think twice about inviting her, because they felt part of her family," Mrs. Wilde said.

Ms. Ward earlier taught at Christ the King School in West Toledo, where she led a program in advanced mathematics, and at Little Flower School in South Toledo, where she helped introduce computers for students.

She became a teacher after a career at the University of Toledo, where she supervised the microfiche section of the library. She took education classes one by one for years until she received her bachelor's degree, said Mrs. Wilde, who got her education degree the winter of 1985, a term after Ms. Ward.

Della Nadeen Schroeder was born Nov. 16, 1947, to Luella and Bill Schroeder and grew up in Maumee. Her father had been a commander of American Legion Post 320 in Maumee and she became active in the junior auxiliary.

During her high school years, she became color guard captain of the drum and bugle corps, the Maumee Suns – a predecessor of the Glass City Optimists and, later, the Glassmen.

As the corps grew, so did the color guard, Mrs. Wilde said, and she eventually oversaw at least 15 girls. When a participant misstepped, "she would make the correction without making you feel bad. She was an excellent leader in that respect," Mrs. Wilde said. "Everyone wanted to please her."

She was a 1965 graduate of Maumee High School.

She enjoyed the company of her nephews and niece. With her interest in travel and in theater, she'd invite at least one along when her itinerary included, for instance, Toronto and a production of Phantom of the Opera.

"She was very loving and giving, being the older sister," Mrs. Thomas said. "She was very protective. She put others always before herself."

Surviving is her sister, Debra Thomas.

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Thursday at Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home. A Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Little Flower Church. Family will receive friends in the church narthex after 10:30 a.m.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or St. Benedict School, located at Little Flower.