Gertrude M. (Molitor) (Aiken) Blackwelder

Gertrude M. Blackwelder, 93, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 16, 2017, with her loving family at her side.

She was born in Elkton, MD. The daughter of the late John and Gertrude (Nurnberg) Molitor, she was a graduate of Elkton High School and Goldey Beacom Business Program. She worked as an administrative assistant for the DuPont Company at their Louviers site, until her retirement in 1986.

Gertrude was a loving mother and proud grandmother and great-grandmother, who always held her family in her heart.  She enjoyed spending summers with her family at her beach house in Fenwick Island.  Gertrude was an avid knitter who in recent years contributed a number of her handmade shawls to the Prayer Shawl Ministry of St. Helena’s Church. She was a devout Catholic and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, to whom she prayed daily.

Gertrude is survived by her husband of 33 years, Charles R. Blackwelder, Jr.; her children, Kathleen A. Finocchiaro (Robert), Eileen M. Aiken, Edward A. Aiken (Marti), and Maureen A. Lytle; her grandchildren, Carrie D. Mullin (Ray), Julie A. Finocchiaro (Keith Clouser), Christie A. Day (Greg), Sarah B. Barlow, Marissa L. Finocchiaro (Tom Hall), Kaitlin D. Larrieu (Rene), Kelly M. John (Daniel), Michelle M. Smith (Greg), Megan E. Lytle, and Brad Lytle; her great-grandchildren, Taylor A. Day, Kelsey A. Mullin, Layla R. Mullin, Ashlyn G. John, and Avery K. John; her brother, Paul P. Molitor (Ernesta); and several nieces, nephews, and members of her extended family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Albert M. Aiken; and seven of her siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Resurrection Parish, 3000 Videre Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808, where family and friends may visit beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gertrude’s memory can be made to the Ministry of Caring, 115 E. 14th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

The Family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the doctors and nurses of the Wilmington Hospital Emergency Room and ICU for the expertise, kindness and compassion given to our mother and the family.  

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