Delia Will (nee Evans)

Died peacefully at Pleasant View Towers in St. John’s after lengthy illness, surrounded by those who loved her. Delia lived a rich and happy life, balancing artistic and career interests with a home filled with children, as well as a sixty-three year-long marriage to her late husband Ray. Left to remember are her children Gavin (Amanda), Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s; Nicola (Yvon), Saint Camille, QC; Stephen (Chin), Orillia, ON; Lisa (Richard), Ottawa, ON; Thi Phan (Gaël, St. John’s; and Michael, Ottawa, ON. Grandchildren Alice, Francis, Benjamin, Cameron, Raphaëlle and Antoine.

Born in Newcastle, United Kingdom, to Edith (Girvin) and Thomas Evans, Delia’s childhood was formed by her father’s passion for sculpture and beekeeping and her mother’s interests in flowers, choral music and politics. She met Ray during a canal boat cruise with her parents in 1957 and the pair were later married, though not before a courtship that involved Ray regularly hitchhiking 500 kilometres from London. They had their first three of six children in the UK before emigrating to Canada – living in Montreal, Nova Scotia and Ontario, and then settling permanently in Newfoundland.

Her artistic talents were initially expressed with textiles through batik and tie dying, but she soon moved on to metalwork; initially silver was her chosen medium, then she and Ray moved to pewter. This eventually led them to establishing Delia Pewter, creating jewellery and household ornaments such as bowls, candleholders and vases. She became a fixture in this province’s artisan crafts scene and volunteered with the NL Crafts Council.

Prior to starting a family Delia had worked as a “human computer” for the BBC in England due to her capacity for multiplying large numbers. She did not work again for a salary until her children had grown, when she obtained a job at Memorial University’s Queen Elizabeth II Library. Delia derived tremendous satisfaction working at the library, particularly the camaraderie of her workmates.

Delia also shared Ray’s interests in track and field and on many weekends she could be found on the sidelines officiating races, a good number of which would feature up to three of her children. Music was a lifelong passion and she derived enjoyment from playing piano and singing in choirs. Delia loved animals; in addition to keeping dogs and cats—and even a turtle she found along a roadside—her fondness for elephants was reflected at home in figurines and art.

She especially enjoyed travel, exploring Canada and the world with Ray through their business, track and field, and on ocean and river cruises.

Delia’s family is forever grateful to the caring staff at both Cambridge Estates and Pleasant View Towers for the care they provided to her. To honour our mother’s request cremation has been arranged and there will be no service.  We invite you to remember Delia in your own way or make a donation to the NL Craft Council and the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

“Toodle pip”