Lydia Mary Ravernell was a seamstress.
She died Sept. 20, 2012, after a long illness. She was 86.
She was born May 21, 1926, in Philadelphia to Grace Marion and Randle Moore Sr.
She was educated in Philadelphia public schools, but left Overbrook High for employment as a clerk typist.
She met her husband, William Ravernell Sr. at a picnic when they were teenagers and they were married in August 1947 after he returned from serving in the Army in World War II. During the 1940s, she became a member of St. Thomas’ Historic African Episcopal Church where all of her children were later baptized.
She taught herself to sew by taking apart a doll’s clothes and putting the outfit back together. Soon after her marriage, she began taking jobs as an operator in clothing manufacturing factories, where she was known for her speed and accuracy in the more complex maneuvers in constructing clothes. She worked at the Peter Piper Company until it closed and then the U.S. Quartermaster Department of Defense in South Philadelphia.
She was a member of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union.
She was a beloved wife, caring mother, gracious aunt and kind friend.
“A resourceful woman, Lydia was always able to make what would seem to be impossible happen,” her family said.
To supplement her income, Ravernell sewed clothing for her sisters and friends and made Easter outfits and school clothes for her daughters at their request. Her life was uncomplicated, revolving in large part by her children’s and grandchildren’s wants and needs. She liked to travel and visited Vermont, California, Arizona and Gibson Family Reunions in Michigan, Florida and North Carolina. She also went on Caribbean cruises and visited Canada.
She had simple pleasures that included cigarettes, coffee and lottery tickets. She loved unannounced visits by her brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. She took care of herself well into her 80s, cooking, cleaning, washing and walking to the corner store for her needs.
“She had an understated, wry sense of humor. As she grew older and her body weaker, she did not complain about her frailties, making jokes about the indignities of aging,” her family said.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, William Ravernell Jr.; grandson, Lamont Ravernell; brother, Randall Moore Jr.; sister, Sandra Moore McCray and nephew, Randall Moore III.
She is survived by her children, Steven Ravernell, Wanda Ravernell and Marion “Peachie” Raverenell; brother, John T. Moore; sisters, Vivian L. Motley and Geraldine Bramwell; daughters-in-law, Patricia Ravernell, Terry Ravernell and Andrea Wright; grandchildren, Glenda Darby, Vashika Smith, Elijah Adams and Ashley Ravernell; granddaughter-in-law, Pertaniel Antoinette Adams; great-grandchildren Joshua and Elisha; and other relatives and friends.
Services were held September 27. Burial was private.
Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
