Enis Witt Best, age 104, of Havertown, PA and Rising Sun, MD died peacefully at Ware Presbyterian Village on Saturday, July 3, 2021. She was born on March 4, 1917 in Kansas and moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin as a young girl. She is preceded in death by her parents, Premo and Mini (Zefferina) Monterastelli. She was an avid learner and after graduating high school went on to the University of Wisconsin where she graduated with a teaching degree. Mrs. Best was the first person in her family to graduate from college.  To pay for her education, she worked in several homes during her college education as a housekeeper and cook.

Following her graduation, she worked as a teacher for several years until she met and married her first husband, the late Ivan H. Witt Sr.  They married on May 30, 1942 and lived in Kansas prior to moving to Philadelphia, PA in 1948.  The couple had one child, Ivan H. Witt Jr.  Six months after the baby was born Mr. Witt died, leaving Enis to care for her young baby and return to work.  Five years later Enis met Fred Best, they married on December 5, 1953.  After a few years of staying home with her young son, Mrs. Best returned work.  This time she worked at the Naval Yard in Philadelphia.

Eventually both Enis and Fred retired and enjoyed living at home in Philadelphia.  When Fred’s parents had both died, they decided to move to his parent’s home in Rising Sun.  Enis continued to live in the Rising Sun home well into her 90’s when she moved back to Philadelphia where her son was still living in the family home.  In her late 90’s she and her son moved to Ware Presbyterian Village to be closer to her husband’s family.

Mrs. Best was an avid artist and gardener. She painted on various art surfaces including glass, porcelain, wood, and canvas. She painted many still lifes and portraits that are treasured family gifts.  Mrs. Best always kept a large flower garden.  Her favorite flowers were red, yellow, and purple.  She would spend hours caring for her garden.

Mrs. Best is survived by her son, Ivan H. Witt, Jr. of Oxford, PA and her nephew and his wife, Tim and Dale Kerns and their children: Katy and Alex Kerns and her beloved and dear friends; Mary and Neal McCleary. She is also survived by many extended family members in Indiana and Wisconsin.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Best is preceded in death by her husbands, Ivan H. Witt, Sr. and Frederick J. Best. Also preceding her in death are her sisters, Elda and Emma.

A graveside celebration of Enis’ life will be held on Friday, July 9 at 2:30 PM at the cemetery at Ebenezer United Methodist Church Rising Sun, MD. In lieu of gifts of her much-loved flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “Cecil College Foundation food pantry” and may be sent to the funeral home at P. O. Box 248 Rising Sun, MD 21911. To send online condolences, please visit www.rtfoard.com.