Delia Mavis Ullberg
May 14, 1963- July 18, 2021
Delia was born in San Francisco, California but grew up in Calvert County, moveing to Calvert County soon after her third birthday. Growing up she enjoyed the freedom of living on our small farm; she and her brother made the pastures and fields their backyard from the beginning, enjoying the freedom that smaller spaces can’t provide. She loved her pets, her cat and kittens and puppies; she also liked caring for the farm animals and understood how to give them gentle, loving care. She even made a pet of the family’s milk cow, an animal from a large herd that had previously had only a number.
As a teen, she volunteered at the Smithsonian Institution’s Natural History Museum, cataloguing in the collections of small mammal skins. The curatorial staff nicknamed her “the flat rat kid.” Still in her teens, she had a part-time job at the children’s museum on Capitol Hill. This was a new museum venture, and she was able to work in many capacities: finally becoming the weekend cashier. The museum director wanted to hire her fulltime, but college beckoned. She earned a biology degree from Earlham College in Indiana, but later decided her life’s work should be a library career; and she went nights to Catholic University in Washington, DC., to earn a Masters of Library Science.
She worked for 15 years in many branches of the Fairfax County Public Libraries, most recently as a child and youth services librarian. She became expert on matching books to children’s interests. One of her special goals was to get kids interested in reading, and she researched different sources of new materials that could help make literature come alive to young readers. She designed library programs for children from 18 months to teenage. During the COVID quarantine, she made videos which taught children how to utilize common household materials to create crafts at home.
Delia is survived by her mother and father, Alan and Patricia Ullberg, and her brother, Rohin Ullberg, sister-in-law Diane Wallander, and her nephews, Steven and Wyatt Ullberg.
Family and friends will gather in September to celebrate her life
Visitation
Services
No Services Available
Interment
Contributions
The World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street N.W.
P.O. Box 97180
Washington, DC 20090
Condolences
Sort Comments
26 Jul 2021
10:22pm
My sincere condolences to the entire Ullberg family for your loss. May time and memories ease your pain.
Those who bloom in the hearts of others never fade away.
City
Glenwood
State
IL
27 Jul 2021
6:18am
Rohin and Family – Our deepest sympathies in your time of grief. Delia accomplished so much and touched so many. We pray her memories bring you peace and comfort.
The Kays Family
City
Centreville
State
Va
27 Jul 2021
4:47pm
Dear Pat & Alan. Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. We know this must be the most difficult time for you both to lose Delia who was such a blessing to you and others she inspired. Please keep in contact; you have so many friends who truly care.
Don & Carol Shomette
City
Dunkirk
State
Maryland
27 Jul 2021
6:13pm
Rohin and Family, my sincere condolences on the loss of your sister. She sounds like she had a heart of gold, especially for children and animals. I know what an emptiness this leaves in your family, but she was very lucky to have the love and support you all gave to her.
Luanne
City
Anne Arundel
State
MD
27 Jul 2021
6:30pm
I am so very grateful to Delia because she served twice on my interview panel when I first came on-board to Fairfax County Public Library. In both occasions I was selected in my new dream jobs as a youth assistant librarian (Kings Park & Tysons-Pimmit branch). I am honored to have been selected as a viable candidate from a great leader such as Delia who was a champion for children and their well-being. I am humbled she selected me, because of Delia, my life has been enriched so incredibly! Thank you Ms. Delia for changing my life, I will never forget what you did for me. May the Lord bless you all with his peace and lighten your heavy hearts during this difficult time. Patricia Campos Bowie
City
Alexandria
State
Virginia
27 Jul 2021
10:39pm
I was saddened to hear this news and my heartfelt condolences go out to Delia’s family. I worked with Delia for a year at Oakton Library. I remember how calm and kind and gentle she was, and how she smiled when she told me she liked to choose young adult books for her adult book club to read. I asked if that was to do homework for the job, but she said she just enjoyed reading them. Then she laughed about how the group told her she wasn’t allowed to pick kids’ books for them to read anymore! She never lost her cool- a useful quality in a youth services librarian. In addition to friends and family, I know she will be greatly missed by the children and families for whom she created literacy programs, and by her library colleagues.
City
ANNANDALE
State
VA
28 Jul 2021
9:58am
My condolences to the entire Ullberg family. I am so sorry for your loss. Delia made such a positive difference in people’s lives both professionally and personally. I had the pleasure of working with Delia at the Oakton Library and enjoying monthly dinner outings with our library friends. She was always a joy to be with and had a great sense of humor. I will truly miss our time together. May her memory be for a blessing.
City
Fairfax
State
Virginia
1 Aug 2021
7:33pm
My prayers are with your family in the loss of Delia. My God comfort you during this time. My advice is to remember her for her inspiration and love instead of the loss. God bless you all. 2 Corinthians 5:8
City
Flossmoor
State
Il
7 Aug 2021
11:10am
My condolences to the Ullberg family. I went to The Canterbury with Delia & Rohin, and we rode on the same school bus for a while. I am glad I had the privilege of meeting her in our formative years at such a wonderful school. The remembers of her life will be with you all always, and now she is amongst the stars watching over us.
City
Temple Hills
State
MD
8 Aug 2021
6:33pm
What a beautiful photograph enshrined in such tender, heart-felt words befitting Delia, a gentle soul, and dear colleague of mine at the Reston Regional Library, whose treasured friendship followed me into retirement…
The prayers in my heart are for peace in yours, dearest parents and brother and family of my friend, Delia…
God knows your sorrow.
May you know His peace
Love,
Marcia Wines
City
Monrovia
State
MD
16 Aug 2021
9:58am
I am so sorry for your sorrow and loss. Delia touched so many hearts and opened so many minds in her work as a childrens librarian. I enjoyed her comments and insights during the time she was a member of our book group. I know Delia is somewhere, smiling, watching what books you are reading now. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I wish you peace.
City
Lusby
State
MD
Sort Comments
My sincere condolences to the entire Ullberg family for your loss. May time and memories ease your pain.
Those who bloom in the hearts of others never fade away.
Rohin and Family – Our deepest sympathies in your time of grief. Delia accomplished so much and touched so many. We pray her memories bring you peace and comfort.
The Kays Family
Dear Pat & Alan. Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. We know this must be the most difficult time for you both to lose Delia who was such a blessing to you and others she inspired. Please keep in contact; you have so many friends who truly care.
Don & Carol Shomette
Rohin and Family, my sincere condolences on the loss of your sister. She sounds like she had a heart of gold, especially for children and animals. I know what an emptiness this leaves in your family, but she was very lucky to have the love and support you all gave to her.
Luanne
I am so very grateful to Delia because she served twice on my interview panel when I first came on-board to Fairfax County Public Library. In both occasions I was selected in my new dream jobs as a youth assistant librarian (Kings Park & Tysons-Pimmit branch). I am honored to have been selected as a viable candidate from a great leader such as Delia who was a champion for children and their well-being. I am humbled she selected me, because of Delia, my life has been enriched so incredibly! Thank you Ms. Delia for changing my life, I will never forget what you did for me. May the Lord bless you all with his peace and lighten your heavy hearts during this difficult time. Patricia Campos Bowie
I was saddened to hear this news and my heartfelt condolences go out to Delia’s family. I worked with Delia for a year at Oakton Library. I remember how calm and kind and gentle she was, and how she smiled when she told me she liked to choose young adult books for her adult book club to read. I asked if that was to do homework for the job, but she said she just enjoyed reading them. Then she laughed about how the group told her she wasn’t allowed to pick kids’ books for them to read anymore! She never lost her cool- a useful quality in a youth services librarian. In addition to friends and family, I know she will be greatly missed by the children and families for whom she created literacy programs, and by her library colleagues.
My condolences to the entire Ullberg family. I am so sorry for your loss. Delia made such a positive difference in people’s lives both professionally and personally. I had the pleasure of working with Delia at the Oakton Library and enjoying monthly dinner outings with our library friends. She was always a joy to be with and had a great sense of humor. I will truly miss our time together. May her memory be for a blessing.
My prayers are with your family in the loss of Delia. My God comfort you during this time. My advice is to remember her for her inspiration and love instead of the loss. God bless you all. 2 Corinthians 5:8
My condolences to the Ullberg family. I went to The Canterbury with Delia & Rohin, and we rode on the same school bus for a while. I am glad I had the privilege of meeting her in our formative years at such a wonderful school. The remembers of her life will be with you all always, and now she is amongst the stars watching over us.
What a beautiful photograph enshrined in such tender, heart-felt words befitting Delia, a gentle soul, and dear colleague of mine at the Reston Regional Library, whose treasured friendship followed me into retirement…
The prayers in my heart are for peace in yours, dearest parents and brother and family of my friend, Delia…
God knows your sorrow.
May you know His peace
Love,
Marcia Wines
I am so sorry for your sorrow and loss. Delia touched so many hearts and opened so many minds in her work as a childrens librarian. I enjoyed her comments and insights during the time she was a member of our book group. I know Delia is somewhere, smiling, watching what books you are reading now. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I wish you peace.