Mary Kimberly Shaw Ware
Mary Kimberly Shaw Ware, 64, of New Wilmington, died Monday, April 23, 2018. After years of frontotemporal dementia, she is home with her Lord, who has restored to her all vocabulary, movement, laughter and knowledge.
Kim was born April 27, 1953, in Pittsburgh, to the late James and Mary Lou George Shaw.
She is preceded in death by her brother, Peter.
She leaves her steadfast husband of 38 years, Fred; daughters Chrissy Ware, Becca (Ross) Simpson and MaryLou (Andy) Dovan; sister Betsy (Sal) Mangiapane; brother Jim (Susan) Shaw; grandchildren Rowan and Madeleine Simpson; four stepchildren; and many dear cousins, nieces and nephews.
Kim was a lifelong learner. After graduating from Canon-McMillan High School in 1971, she earned her bachelors degree in education from Geneva College and her masters degree in reading from Temple University. She learned in the kitchen, perfecting her Indian curry, she learned in nature, able to name any flower she saw, and she learned on-the-go, often packing as many as 15 books for family road trips.
Through all of these stages, Kim learned most as a disciple of Jesus. She treasured him as her savior and king, loved to worship him in song and boldly witnessed to family and friends, bringing many to hope in Christ.
Kim invested many years of her life as a teacher in the classroom. Most recently, Kim taught kindergarten in the Wilmington Area School District for 16 years, where she is remembered most for playing her guitar and singing with her students. She began her teaching career in Bridgeton, N.J., and taught first grade for six years at Bridgeton Christian School. In these first years of teaching, Kim met Fred Ware at Deerfield Presbyterian Church, and they married in 1979.
Fred and Kim established a household that prioritized fellowship around the table and valued a good sense of humor. As Kim transitioned into motherhood, she nurtured her girls with her warm presence, and she encouraged them to wonder at the world, bringing books to life with silly voices and taking frequent trips to museums, theaters and botanical gardens. Kim loved to travel and especially adored family trips to Nags Head, N.C., and Lovell, Maine.
Her family celebrates that Kim’s joy is now complete.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, in New Wilmington Presbyterian Church and 11 a.m. Monday, April 30, at Freitag Funeral Home, Bridgeton, N.J. Interment will follow at Deerfield Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive guests from 10 to 11 a.m. at both services.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christian Counseling and Education Foundation at ccef.org or Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at aftd.org.