Harriett McNemar Esham, 105, of Wilmington, DE passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in her home in north Wilmington with family at her side.

Born on December 16, 1920 in Wilmington, DE to Paul and Harriett (Dill) McNemar, she was raised by her aunt Elsie P. Dill after her mother died when she was very young. She graduated from Wilmington High School and subsequently from the Women’s College at the University of Delaware. Her education at the university was accelerated to a three-year program due to World War II. She became a teacher and worked locally, including participating in the Title I reading program at Holy Rosary in Claymont.

She married Benjamin F. Esham, a neighbor of hers on Broom Street in Wilmington, in 1945. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1995, a few months before his death later that same year.

Harriett was also predeceased by her brother Edward McNemar in 2005, her daughter Margaret (Peggy) Sezna in 2008, and grandson David Esham in 1991.

A long-time member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and then Faith Presbyterian Church, Harriett was also active in the American Association of University Women, the local DAR chapter (Caesar Rodney), and she helped raise funds for the Sunday Breakfast Mission and the American Leprosy Mission. She loved to travel, especially to Ireland. She also enjoyed doing genealogy work and camping throughout the USA.

Harriett is survived by sons Dr. Benjamin F. Esham Jr., Robert L. Esham, Charles A. Esham MD, and daughter Barbara Coffin; eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and niece Alice McNemar Hart.

Services will be private.