Andrea Faye Wingert

Andrea Faye Wingert, “Andi” passed away peacefully at home in the early morning of Sunday, December 3, 2023, in Wyndmoor, PA. She was 72 years old. Andi was born in Lancaster, PA on May 2, 1951 to Kenneth E. Hess (d.2001) and Mildred (Miller) Hess, the eldest of 4 siblings, which included Brenda Hess Rich (m. Sheldon Rich), Ronald K. Hess (m. Kathleen Norris), and Robert L. Hess (m. Kathy Gifford). The family grew up in the Lancaster Brethren in Christ Church and music was a big part of their lives. Andi started playing the Flute in elementary school and continued playing throughout her life.  She sang in various groups and choirs throughout her life, including at Messiah College, Diamond Street Mennonite Church, Singing City and Germantown Mennonite Church.

Andi received a BS degree in Music Education from Messiah College in 1973. Her work life spanned some 30 years. She primarily worked at Greene Towne Montessori School, where she taught movement and music to preschool children. 

Andi married Donald Wingert (d. 2017) in 1976, and they had two children, Lauren Mae Wingert “Maze” and Amber Kay Wingert (m. Jordan Martin). They moved to Philadelphia in 1980, living first at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus until later buying a home in Erdenheim, PA.

Andi met Mark “Cos” Cosgrove through their mutual love of contra dancing. Other passions shared by Andi and Cos included Birding all over the world, and especially at their favorite place, Ocean City, NJ; and rooting for the Phillies and the Eagles. She watched many of the Eagles winning games this year, even while receiving Hospice Care.

In recent years, Andi was moved to action by the comments of mothers whose children were torn from their arms by gun violence. She responded to God’s call and asked to join the group, “Moms Demand Action”, and from then on went to rallies, prayed, participated in cleaning up and picking up litter in parks and neighborhoods, and met up with Moms who lost children to gun violence.

Andi’s love of nature and of valuing the green spaces in Philadelphia led her to become a Trail Ambassador for the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW), where she led hikes, identified birds, shared geological and historical knowledge about the Wissahickon Valley Park to hundreds who shared her love of the outdoors. She painted many watercolor drawings of birds and flowers.

Andi loved traveling and was always ready for a new adventure. Wherever she was, that was her favorite place. Some of those trips included visiting Lauren in South Korea, birding in Panama and Costa Rica, pilgrimaging on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and volunteering the Fall of 2021 with Cos in Acadia National Park in Maine, educating school groups and the general public.

The hardest journey of all has been her journey with Cancer. Andi first got breast cancer in the early 1990s and fought hard through those years to survive and go on to live well for 30 more years, until cancer reemerged this past July.

A friend recently wrote to Andi of being “impressed with your spirit of ease and appreciation for each moment, the kind of peace born from great struggle with the essentials of life. I got the sense that you intended to live life fully. And it seems you have.”

Thank you for your love expressed to Andi over the past 6 months, for the cards, flowers, posts on CaringBridge, email and Facebook, meals, and presence both in medical settings and especially keeping vigil during the day and overnight in her home.

Relatives and Friends are invited to Andi’s Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 10:30am, to be held at the Germantown Mennonite Church, 21 W. Washington Lane, Philadelphia, PA, followed by a luncheon and opportunity to share memories and tributes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged in Andi’s honor to Mom’s Demand Action: https://give.everytown.org/give/t469259/#!/donation/checkout

May we live fully as we remember Andi, her smile and enthusiasm for life.