Edna (Berry) Eitel

Edna Mae Berry Eitel, known lovingly as Edna, passed from this life on April 14, 2026, in Hockessin, Delaware, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of faith, compassion, and devoted service.

She was born on March 4, 1935, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and she lived her life with the grace and strength that marked her as a woman of Christian character. Her passing came of natural causes, and though she is greatly missed, her life remains a blessing to all who knew and loved her. Edna was the cherished daughter of Daniel James and Trula Mae Berry. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Emma Pearl Dick, Murrell Persick, Minnie Kate Berry, Irene Tucker, Albert M. Berry, Anna Kaye Berry, and Linda Davis, and by her beloved husband of 54 years, William “Bill” W. Eitel Jr. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as the many adopted friends she lovingly called family. Her life was enriched by these bonds, and she in turn enriched the lives of others with her kindness, loyalty, and steady presence.

Edna was a woman who valued learning and pursued her education with determination and purpose. She graduated from Unaka High School and the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She later earned a B.S. degree from East Tennessee State University and completed her Postgraduate Clinical Course in Obstetric Nursing at the Woman’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Her education reflected both her intelligence and her deep desire to care for others with skill and excellence.

Her call to nursing was evident early in life, and she carried that calling faithfully through every season of her career. As life and family moved her from place to place with Bill, her work changed over time, but her dedication never wavered. She especially loved working with babies and children in the early years of her nursing career, where her gentle spirit and nurturing heart were comforting to many. Later, she served with distinction for 25 years in the Department of Veterans Affairs before her retirement. Throughout her years of service, she received certificates of appreciation, outstanding performance reviews, and special contribution awards that recognized her commitment to her patients and her profession. Edna was known for her loving and nurturing manner, her positive attitude, her warm smile, and her comforting words, which touched both patients and coworkers alike. Whatever task was placed before her, she gave one hundred percent, and she did so with humility and grace.

Above all, Edna was a Christian woman who sought to live her faith in practical and tender ways. She found joy in making a home for herself and Bill, and she took great pleasure in the simple, meaningful blessings of life. She loved to craft, cook, and study her Bible, whether alone in quiet devotion or with a church group in fellowship. She was equally content enjoying a picnic in the park or traveling the world with Bill, and she embraced each experience with gratitude and wonder. Her life was a testimony to the beauty of a faithful heart and the peace that comes from walking with the Lord.

Edna will be remembered as a loving wife, a devoted nurse, a faithful Christian, and a woman whose kindness was felt by everyone around her. Her life was marked by service, compassion, and steadfast love, and her memory will continue to inspire those who were blessed to know her. Though she has departed this earthly life, we take comfort in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ and in the hope of reunion in God’s perfect time.

Friends are invited to the service at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808 on Friday, April 24, 2026.  Visitation begins at 10:30 am with the service to follow at 11:00 am. Interment will be private.

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