Andrea Egan Didden, retired educator
Andrea Egan Didden, an inspirational educator, wonderful wife, loving mom, proud grandmother, and friend to all, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at her home in Lewes after a heroic battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was a beautiful person, showering love wherever she went.
Andrea was born Feb. 16, 1942, in Woonsocket, R.I., daughter of George and Louise Egan. She attended Saint Charles Borromeo Elementary School in Woonsocket and Saint Xavier Academy High School in Providence, R.I. Childhood stories suggest she had quite a spirited streak! She graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in elementary education and in 1975, earned her master’s degree in education administration from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
She taught at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Blackstone, Mass., for three years and then moved to Maryland, where she taught in Montgomery County Public Schools from 1968 to retirement in 1998. Andrea was an early technology enthusiast, beginning with the Commodore PET, and dedicated the final decade of her career to integrating computer technology into the classroom at Pine Crest Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md. Always ready for an adventure, in 1998, she participated in a USAID project to expand computer literacy abroad, including a trip to Uganda with her principal Pam Sobel, and a visit by President Clinton to Pine Crest Elementary. She was proud of her 34 years in Alpha Delta Kappa, Epsilon Chapter, an international honorary organization for women educators, which is dedicated to educational excellence. She held many leadership positions and organized many fundraisers for ADK Epsilon’s altruistic purposes.
Andrea was a true Renaissance person, with skills and interests in painting, carving, piano, skating, diving, equestrian, reading, gardening, birding, fishing, boating, sailing, and the theatre. She encouraged similar exploration of life for her son and then grandchildren, orchestrating a “Grammy Camp” for many summers of nature and museums.
She loved sharing time with friends and family at the beach in Lewes. She could (and would!) make friends anywhere with anyone. She also enjoyed quiet time alone and, most of all, cherished time with her adored and adoring husband of over 50 years, Albert.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Louise and George Egan; and her brother, George M. Egan. She is survived by her husband, Albert Joseph Didden Jr.; son, Jason Thomas Didden and wife Amy; two grandsons, Justin Thomas Didden and Peter Joseph Didden; sister, Joanne Egan Shea (also her immediate neighbor of 40+ years); brothers, Rev. Thomas Egan and Jay Egan; nieces, Andrea Shea Cirbee and Joanna Shea O’Brien; and nephews, Christopher Shea and Daniel Shea.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 19, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 22, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4900 Strathmore Ave., Garrett Park, Md., where friends and family may begin visiting at 10 a.m. Burial will be held at 1 p.m., at Parklawn Memorial Park, 12800 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, Md.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Andrea’s honor to Children’s Beach House in Lewes, cbhinc.org/donate, an organization Andrea supported for many years.
