Age 60, of Wilmington, DE, passed away after a courageous, inspiring, and dogged 2½ year battle with cancer.

Mary’s resolve in fighting and dealing with her illness enabled her to perform her job as a registered nurse at Manor Care Foulk Road up to the very end of her life.

Mary was the animated daughter of Frank and Virginia Marinelli. She embodied the joy and spirit of the entire Marinelli family.

She graduated from Corpus Christi School and Padua Academy, where as a youngster, she became adept at fashion sketching and design. Her talents as an artist would soon spread to the world of cooking and baking. Mary owned and operated Sugar Plums Bakery on Lancaster Pike, where folks would gather to enjoy her lunches, cookies, and cakes. Nothing made Mary happier than cooking and baking for her family and friends. Her annual Christmas cookie operation has become the stuff of legend for generations to come.

Mary (Aunt LaLa) was also the spark and fun in the lives of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom adore her.

Mary had a giving and gracious heart. Her first impulse was to see the “good” in people. Her many acts of charity and kindness will be greatly missed.

Her family can only assume that after taking such wonderful care of their mother during her last years that Mom is calling to her now, and now it is Mom who will have to put up with Mary’s annoying rants of “I LOVE MY JOB!!!”

Mary was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister, Cheryl, and her brother, Gerard. She is survived by her sisters, Theresa Matthews, Patty Hall, and Ruth Graziano; her brothers, Frank Marinelli (Debbie), Dennis Marinelli, Sr., and Phillip Marinelli, Sr. (Mary Therese); her nieces and nephews, Michael, Bridget, Joanna, Frank, Laura, Gail, Dennis, Rosanna, Katie, Phil, Sarah, Patrick, Colette, Natalie, Addison, Frankie, and Liam, all who will miss her greatly.

The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Schneider, whom Mary thought the world of, the entire staff of the 3rd floor chemo room at the Helen Graham Center, Dr. deSouza Lawrence and Constance, Dr. Mark Gloth, Dr. Michael Cooksey, Mary Summer, and Tracey Watters.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, January 14, at 11:00 am at Corpus Christi R.C. Church, 905 New Road, Elsmere. A visitation will take place at the Church on Thursday morning from 9:30-11:00 am. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery.

Mary would greatly appreciate any donations in her name be sent to the Helen Graham Center, 13 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720 or the Ministry of Caring, 506 North Church Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home
302.994.9614
www.delawarefuneral.com

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