Della Newman

Mrs. Della Katherine Newman (Johanson), wife of Jeff Newman, Mother of David Newman, Daughter of Mary Ruth and Roy Johanson passed away October 29, 2012 in Frederick, MD after 4 valiant years of battling intestinal cancer.  Born November 17, 1961, in San Diego, CA.  She graduated from Clairemont High School.  At the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), she achieved a Bachelor of Arts with a dual major in History and English and a minor in Music.  At the University of San Diego (USD), she achieved a Masters in Education, credentialed in severely handicapped, learning disabled, and physically disabled, and multiple subjects.  She later also achieved a Masters in Reading from Westminster College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD.  Della also taught Child Development Classes at Westminster College.

She secured her first teaching position at Revere School for severely disabled, physically, and mentally handicapped kids in San Diego.  After three years at Revere, she took the advice of a friend and signed up for an overseas teaching position at Naples Elementary in Naples, Italy through the Department of Defense Dependents School (DODDS), now known as Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA).  She spent 6 years in Naples teaching Pre-School Special Ed.  Then, she returned to Norfolk, VA area to teach Kindergarten Special Ed for a year before accepting a History Teaching Position at Bruton High School.

She then took a Lower Elementary Special Ed Teaching Position at Elmer Wolfe Elementary in Union Bridge, MD.  During her few years at Elmer Wolfe, she married Jeff and later left teaching for awhile to raise their only son, David (now 10).  After David started school, Della substitute taught in Frederick County Schools, MD (Frederick Country Day and Hillcrest Elementary) for a couple of years before having to leave for health reasons.

Della’s interests included devotion to family, traveling to cultural and historic places, Italy, community and church activities, youth groups, Point of Rocks Ruritan, Sons of Norway, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Della is survived by her husband, Jeff and son, David of Point of Rocks, MD; aunt, Shirley Johnson of San Diego, CA; 3rd cousin, Marilyn Piraino of Lombard, IL; cousin Janet Johanson of Las Vegas, NV; step-cousin, Darlene O’Keefe of McHenry, IL; many other cousins; three step-sons and step-daughters, Nathan and Karie of Winchester, VA; Nick and Sherry of Middletown, PA; and Neil and Janeen of Allentown, PA; 6 step-granddaughters, Vanessa, Lynnea, Mae, Kloey, Karis, Irenae; and one step-grandson, Mattathias.

Viewings will be held on Tues, 6 Nov, 3-5 PM and 7-9 PM at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.  The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, at 11 AM at First Baptist Church, 7040 Bowers Road, Frederick, MD 21702.  The family will start receiving friends and family at 10 AM.  Following the grave-side ceremony at Mount Olivet Cemetery, a repast will be held back at First Baptist Church at approximately 1 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Della’s name to First Baptist Church.

---