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Helen C. Zippe Obituary

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Helen C. Zippe

Smyrna, DE

December 16, 1942 - January 18, 2021

Helen C. Zippe Obituary

Helen Catherine Malinowski Zippe died at the age of 78 in Wilmington, Delaware on January 18, 2021 of long-term complications after a hip fracture and COVID-19. She is predeceased by her parents Witold and Veronica Malinowski, brother Henry Adam of Jacksonville, FL and husband Ernst K. of Clayton DE. She is survived by her children Eric (Jennifer Rice) of Wilmington, DE and Joan (Rob Nash) of Averill Park, NY. Helen Catherine Malinowski Zippe was born at home during a blizzard on December 16, 1942 near Churchville, New York. Weighing in at under three pounds, she was transported to the Stone Memorial Hospital in Rochester in a wicker clothes basket surrounded by blankets and hot water bottles. Some three months later she returned home in a Cadillac¬ taxicab to her parents and brother. She had hard working and religious Polish immigrant parents, even though not formally educated, stressed the importance of education. She knew even before she went to school that she was going to go to college. Polish was her first language and after attending her first day at grade school, she reported back that the teacher was stupid because she did not know Polish. Although Polish was her first language to speak, she went onto major in English Literature graduating with a BA from the State University of Buffalo in 1965. She took great pride knowing her daughter graduated from the same school and walked the halls as she did decades later. She worked in the Public Relations Department of the Buffalo Museum of Science before pursing her career teaching in places like Toms River, New Jersey and in the state of Delaware. While teaching in Delaware, she took a jewelry class and needed bits and pieces of metal for her creations. She was told to stop by the old Zippe Farm and ask if there was any scrap metal that she could use. She left the farm not only with jewelry but liked the farmer’s cute son. She fell in love with that farmer’s son and married Ernst K Zippe on July 19, 1969. This creative couple worked together on the family farm in Clayton, DE in the fields and kept themselves busy designing jewelry, metal sculptures, block printing, and if you were lucky, a cutting board from wood on the property. They encouraged creativity in their two children, Eric and Joan, from the buckets of Legos to build and create, many art supplies, and taking them to art museums, cultural events and concerts from a young age. The family’s annual Christmas trips to visit her parents in St. Petersburg, FL entailed the big blue “Zip mobile” 8 passenger Chevy van with a row for each kid to have their own space during the 24-hour road trips. The trip south was not complete without counting EVERY South of the Border sign, visiting the Salvador Dali museum and the St. Pete Pier. To this day Salvador Dali remains a favorite artist of her children. As the kids got older, 4-H was added to expand their view of the world. Helen became involved with sewing, cooking and horticultural projects. Helen and her husband were very active volunteers in New Castle County 4-H. They were quite a hoot to watch in action and the “Zip Mobile” became a vehicle that many a 4-Her was chauffeured around in. Once the kids were older, Helen went back to school and received her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Special Education from the University of Delaware in 1993. She taught in Townsend Elementary School, Bancroft Middle School in Wilmington, Smyrna School District and embarrassed her children as their substitute teacher throughout the years. After her husband of 27 years passed in 1996, she became the education reporter for the Delaware State News. She later moved up to Wilmington, DE to live with her son, Eric. As the years passed, her mobility and eyesight decreased but not her love for knitting. She could always be found knitting scarves, hats, and mittens (known for her signature style of bright primary, mismatched colors) for those in need through the CareWear Project in which she reached 25,000+ community service hours of knitting during her lifetime. Helen loved to learn new things throughout her life. Reading was always very important to her from reading to her children when they were young, proof reading essays and stories when they were in school, to artist statements as they became adults and then listening to books on tape when she could no longer see good enough. She loved music of all genres and had her children take piano lessons when they were younger. She loved almost all styles from the opera Carmina Burana to Aaron Copland, folk music like Puff the Magic Dragon and artists like John Denver, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, to the introduction of outlaw country by her husband and such classic artists as Metallica and Pink Floyd introduced by her children. She absorbed whatever information she could find and was completely content listening to conspiracy theories, news, and the Weather Channel all day. She loved holiday visits with her family which included wine tastings, wonderful food and Cards Against Humanity games where she was the winner quite a bit. Helen’s love for her children has provided them the encouragement to pursue their creative passions throughout their lives and both children now enjoy creative careers thanks to her love and support. The family would like to thank all the nurses, doctors, aides, therapists and our community of support that have helped us navigate through this journey. A private graveside service will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Dover, Delaware, where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Ernst. A memorial service and Catholic Memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date. To honor her memory Joan and Eric ask for donations to be sent to the Delaware 4-H Foundation

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