06/02/09

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Grant Ulrich Stiner Jr., Rehoboth retiree
Grant Ulrich Stiner Jr., born July 31, 1921, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2009, after a long illness. A longtime resident of Baltimore, Md., he retired to Rehoboth Beach in 2003. Burial will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 13, at Old Trinity Church Cemetery, located on Route 16, one mile west of Church Creek, Md. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to hospice in his name.

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Caroline S. Tomasetti, nursing assistant
Caroline S. Tomasetti, 62, of Smyrna, loving wife and mother, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus on Saturday, May 23, 2009, at home. Born July 22, 1946, in Johnson City, Tenn., she was the daughter of Lorraine Brummitt Hamby of Smyrna, and the late James Roscoe Hamby. In her earlier years, Caroline was a school bus driver for the Middletown School District and later went on to be an extrusion operator for Hercules. Within the past few years, she was a CNA for the Visiting Nurses Association. Caroline enjoyed fishing, working on a variety of crafts and decorating wedding cakes, and she was a talented artist. More importantly, she loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Townsend Freewill Baptist Church. In addition to her mother, she leaves many wonderful memories to her husband of 29 years, Mark W. Tomasetti Sr.; a daughter, Michele Spence of Smyrna; three sons, Jimmy Penix of Seaford, Mark W. Tomasetti Jr. of Smyrna and Richard W. Tomasetti of Milton; a sister, Wanda Campbell; two brothers, James and Richard Hamby; six grandchildren, Josh, Cody and Cory Penix and Donald, David and Jordan Spence; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at Townsend Freewill Baptist Church, 4519 S. DuPont Highway, Townsend, where family and friends may visit one hour prior to services. Interment will be private. Arrangements by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown.

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Ann H. Reed, Zion UMC member
Ann H. Reed, 97, of Milton died Thursday May 29, 2009, at Milford Center.
She is the daughter of the late Grover C. Hayes and Clara Skinner Hayes. She worked at Strawbridge and Clothier in Philadelphia and Springfield area for many years. She attended Zion United Methodist Church in Milton and was a member of Milford Senior Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman “Doc” Reed; a brother, Gilbert Hayes; a sister, Stella Virgil Bryant; and a great-nephew, David Reed.
She is survived by a niece, Judith Ann Austin; and nephew, Robert Ervin Bryant Jr. who cared for her, and a cousin, Sara and several great-nieces and -nephews, Lee Ann Austin of New Jersey, Alan M. Austin of New York City, Jeanine Ann Bundick of Virginia, Robert Ervin Bryant III of Delaware, Robbie Bryant and Josie Bryant of Delaware, Caleb Bundick and Josh Bundick, both of Virginia.
Services were Monday, June 1, at Gracelawn Cemetery, Wilmington. Arrangements by Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Milford Center, 700 Marvel Road, Milford, DE 19963; or Bayhealth Center, 21 East Clark Ave., Milford, DE 19963.

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Jeffrey Grossman, avid traveler
Jeffrey Grossman, son of the late Irving and Danielle Grossman, of Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, and Jupiter, Fla., died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at Christiana Hospital in Newark, where he was comforted by his beloved aunt, Edie Barlow, his longtime devoted friend, Patricia Nino, and his friend and counsel, Jerry Grossman.
Jeffrey was a graduate of Hobart College and traveled extensively through the United States and Europe, where his facility at speaking foreign languages, particularly French, served him well. He was an avid supporter of charitable organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Born Oct. 17, 1953, in Wilmington, Mr. Grossman was raised and educated locally. He attended Wilmington Friends School. As a child, he and his dog, Frisky, were a welcome duo at his grandparents’ house in Pennsylvania.
He is remembered lovingly by his aunts, Arlette Rappaport and Edie Barlow; his cousins, Mike Barlow, Bob Barlow, Dinah Fox and Sarah Appel Lennon; and his dear friends, Patricia Nino and Adam Goshorn, among many others.
A graveside service was held Sunday, May 31, at Beth Emeth Memorial Park, on Faulkland Road in Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1399 S. Roxbury, Los Angeles, CA 90035, or to another charitable organization.

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Willard E. Duncan, Kmart greeter
Willard E. Duncan, 90, of Smyrna, formerly of Rehoboth Beach and Wilmington passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
Willard was born Aug. 6, 1918, in Peck, Va., the second of six siblings. He was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan. He served in the Army in World War II and was a past grand master of Delaware Odd Fellows Lodge 1. For many years he was part owner of Duncan and Reynolds at 40th and Washington sts. in Wilmington. After moving to Rehoboth Beach in 1985, he worked for Sea Colony in Bethany Beach and Kmart in Rehoboth, when it originally opened. He was a greeter at Kmart and would always greet you with a smile and “Good morning.”
He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Eleanor, in 1994 and daughter, Gwen Buxton, in 1990. He is survived by his sister, Peggy Duncan of Wilmington; daughter, Gail Hicken (Elbie) of Rehoboth Beach; two grandsons, Charles and Timothy; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday, June 1, at Gracelawn Memorial Park Chapel, New Castle, with interment in the adjoining cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Arthritis Foundation Delaware Chapter, 100 West 10th St., Wilmington, DE 19801.

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Jeffrey M. Dearie, U.S. Navy petty officer
Jeffrey M. Dearie, 33, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Wilmington passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
He is the son of James and Joan Iorii Dearie. Jeff graduated from A.I. DuPont High School in 1994 where he played on the school’s first lacrosse team. He also attended Delaware Technical & Community College. Jeff proudly served his country achieving the rank of petty officer in the U.S. Navy from 1997 to 2001 where he received special letters of commendation for outstanding service as well as the Good Conduct Medal. Jeff worked for Boston Fleet Financial as an account retention officer from 2001 to 2004. He then opened his own business, Hot Flash Heating & Air Conditioning. Jeff’s skills as an HVAC technician led him to immediate success. His company was known for its state-of-the-art systems from light commercial to custom installations in up-scale luxury homes, including the latest technology in geothermal heating and air conditioning. Jeff was an accomplished skim boarder and held first- and second-place rankings in the East Coast Skim Boarding competitions.
In addition to his parents, Jeff is survived by his son, Cory; his sister, Jaclyn Czachorowski and her husband Paul and his nephews, Paulie and Tommy and many devoted friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, June 1, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Wilmington, with interment in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. A memorial service was held Sunday, May 31, in Jeff’s memory at the Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach.
In lieu of flowers a donation in Jeff’s name to St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 901 N. DuPont St., Wilmington, DE 19805 is suggested.

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Anne Ingram Halsey, Lewes High graduate
Anne Ingram Halsey, of Point Pleasant, N.J., and Peaks Island, Maine, died in Bedford, Mass., Thursday, May 14, 2009. Born May 16, 1923, in Lewes, Mrs. Halsey grew up as the youngest of six children. She graduated from Lewes High School and attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art.
She was married in 1943 to Macdonald Halsey, a naval officer who was stationed briefly in Lewes during World War II. With an open mind and an open heart, after the war she followed her husband to a new life in Ojai, Calif., where they raised their three children on the campus of the Thacher School. While there, she formed friendships that lasted a lifetime, including many years back on the East Coast.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Halsey shared her love of arts and crafts with children. Her teaching career included three years at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., and 15 years at the Kent Place School in Summit, N.J., where her husband was head of school.
When they retired to Point Pleasant, Mrs. Halsey enjoyed a close circle of friends and neighbors, traveling, cooking and continued craft work for gifts and her church fair. She was further known for her skill with the sewing machine and the imaginative flair of her personal style.
When people were invited to Anne Halsey’s home for one of her elegant little dinner parties, they knew the food would be not only delicious but creatively presented. Her candlelit table was welcoming for not only guests and festive holiday meals but also for simple family dinners. Her attention to detail was clear without being obsessive or intimidating.
One of the many things she understood and taught her family was the value of sharing good food and companionship around the table.
Another thing she understood and taught her family was the importance of art and creating a home where the eye always fell on something beautiful. Friends and family admired her sense of color, her eye for bold fabrics and her knack for arranging natural objects such as shells, dried pods or common flowers in a way that made people see them anew.
Mrs. Halsey will be missed by her husband of 65 years; her brother Homer of Lewes; her son Woodruff of Haverhill, Mass.; her daughter Comfort of Jamaica Plain, Mass.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her eldest son, Macdonald Brooke, predeceased her in 1969.
A memorial service was held in Bedford, Mass., May 21. Private interment services are planned in Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully received by the Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes, DE 19958; or online at historiclewes.org; or the Thacher School, 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, CA 93023 or online at thacher.org.

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Charles J. Simpson, loving father
Charles J. “Charlie” Simpson, 71, of Lewes, loving husband of Arline, died suddenly Thursday, May 28, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center. He was born Sept. 17, 1937, in Wilmington, son of the late Charles Edward and Sarah Helen Hogan Simpson.
Charlie was a man of great honor, a loving husband, father and grandfather. He always had a smile on his face for all who knew him.
He was a man of many talents who could fix almost anything. Known as one of the best fishermen around and one whom fish feared, he could be found in his red truck parked between the Rehoboth twin towers. He was an avid sports fan of Notre Dame, the Phillies and a diehard Eagles fan. His children and stepchildren loved him and he was the best pop-pop to 21 grandchildren. Charlie was employed by the state of Delaware DART as a facilities manager. His family and friends will miss their lucky Irishman.
He is survived by his wife, Arline L. Simpson; two brothers, Daniel Simpson and wife Eileen, and Raymond Simpson; his sister, Joyce Held and husband Ken; son Chip Simpson and wife Donna, son Mike Simpson and wife Patti, daughter Sue Nass and husband Eric, daughter Sharon McQuaide and husband Jim, and daughter Sally Simpson; stepchildren Mike Masiello, Lynne Meyer and husband Jim, Gayle Seker and husband Greg, Ann Naar and husband Dave; grandchildren Josh, Lainey, Emily, Colleen, Michael, Kevin, Connor, Lauren, Bridget, Brendan, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Erin, Allie, Nicholas, Robert, Shep, David, Jillian, Sarah and Zachary.
The memorial service was Monday, June 1, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes. Interment was private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Camp Barnes, c/o Delaware State Police Troop 4, 23652 Shortly Road, Georgetown, DE 19947.

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Mary S. Gargano, active church member
Mary S. Gargano, 85, of Boothwyn, Pa., died peacefully at home Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
Born to the late Antonio and Sunda Tenaro Luberti, she was raised in Linwood, Pa., and resided in Boothwyn for the past 62 years. A homemaker, she was a lifelong Holy Saviour Catholic Church member.
A devout Catholic, she also belonged to the Holy Saviour Women’s Club. She was active in the area as a member of the Upper Chichester Seniors Citizens’ Club, where she was once recording secretary, the St. John Fisher Senior’s Club, and a founding member of the former American-Italian Social Club in Twin Oaks.
Her hobbies included playing cards, crocheting and traveling; however, her real enjoyment was cooking Italian foods as well as entertaining family and friends.
Preceded in death by her husband, Albert F. Gargano Sr. in 1981, she is also preceded in death by three sisters, Louise Monaco, Margaret Walker and Isabelle McDaniel, and a brother, Henry Luberti. She is survived by one son, Albert F. (Cheryl) Gargano Jr. of Millsboro; three daughters, Sandra A. Rose of Wilmington, Mary (Gene) Cichanowsky of Upper Providence Township, Pa., and Sue (Ken) Seltzer of Upper Chichester; one brother, Rocco (Connie) Luberti Sr. of Upper Chichester, and one sister, Rita Baresich of Lower Chichester, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, Valarie Gargano, Albert Gargano, Natalie (John) Cherry, Donald (Pam) Gargano, Mark Simpson, Holly (Eric) Gentzsch, Michael Rose, Gene (Mandy) Cichanowsky, Erik Cichanowsky, Elise Seltzer and Kenney Seltzer and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral mass was Saturday, May 30, at Holy Saviour Catholic Church in Linwood.
Donations in her memory may be made to Holy Saviour Women’s Club, 108 E. Ridge Road, Linwood, PA 19061.

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Michael R. Monahan, Casa Dileo bartender
Michael Robert Monahan, 57, of Lewes, formerly of Ellenville, N.Y., passed away peacefully at his residence Tuesday, May 26, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late Robert and Gladys Monahan.
Michael moved to Lewes in 1981, to work with his lifelong friend John Dileo at Casa Dileo. Michael has many friends in his life, working as a bartender and waiter at several local restaurants: Potpourri, Captain’s Table and Adriatico.
Michael enjoyed life to the fullest, especially cooking and entertaining friends and family in his home. He appreciated music and took pleasure in going to concerts throughout his life. An avid sports fan, Michael watched and played baseball and basketball and often cheered for his favorite team - the New York Yankees. A devout Catholic, Michael served as an altar boy as a child and remained faithful to the church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Sean Timothy Monahan. He is survived by his loving wife, Connie Monahan; her sons, William Wright Jr. and Charles Hazel III and wife Nikki and their children, Morgan and Lincoln; beloved sister, Patty Allison and husband Carl of Ellenville; beloved uncle of Tracey Hussey and husband Arthur and their daughter Jessica; Kevin Leland and wife Peggy and their children Julia and Gregory; Christopher Allison and wife Kristalyn and their son Austin; Scott Allison and wife Erin and their son Evelyn; Jeffrey Allison and wife Donielle and their daughters Reagan and Alexandra; Robin Allison and her children Kirk and Katherine; Kerri Layton and Troy Reese and their children, R.T. and L.J.; good friends Debbie Lambert and husband Jack and their daughter Kaitlin; George Walsh and wife Carmin; John Dileo and Kara Miele; John Theobar; and Jimmy Broadhurst.
The family would like to especially thank niece Kerri Layton for her dedication and patience during Michael’s final days.
A memorial service was held Monday, June 1, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Sara A. Shelley, retired clerk
Sara A. Shelley, 84, of Wilmington, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at Manor Care, Pike Creek.
Sara had retired as a clerk from the Delaware Division of Social Services. She was a member of Marshallton United Methodist Church and enjoyed cooking and reading.
Sara was preceded in death by her husband, William K. Shelley; and her sister, Ruth Betty Abernathy. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Fidance and her husband Philip, and Kay Monack and her husband Larry; and her grandchildren, Brian Caswell-Monack and his wife Angela, Jillian Monack and Holly Kline.
The family would like to thank the staff at Manor Care, Pike Creek, for the excellent care they provide to Sara during her illness.
A celebration of Sara’s life was Monday, June 1, at the McCrery Memorial Chapel in Wilmington. Burial was private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Emanuel Dining Room, 121 N. Jackson St., Wilmington, DE 19805.

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Helen Louise Somers, born in West Grove, Pa.
Helen Louise Taylor Somers, 80, of Lewes, formerly of Boothwyn, Pa., died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at her residence with her son by her side.
Born Oct. 5, 1928, in West Grove, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Irving and Mavel Taylor. Mrs. Somers graduated from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia in 1947. She worked for 15 years and retired from Nevil Home, now called Valley View, in Elwyn, Pa. She enjoyed baking desserts, Christmas cookies, pies on all holidays and celebrating life with family and friends. She was a member of the Wilmington Club for the Deaf for many years and a member of Lancaster Senior Citizens Club in Lancaster, Pa.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gilbert Somers; brothers Bud Taylor and Francis Taylor; and her sister, Bertha James. She is survived by her son, Richard Somers of Lewes, with whom she lived; her brother, Lewis Taylor of Toughkenson, Pa.; a very special friend, Jay Baker of Philadelphia; and many nieces and nephews. Thank you to all staff from hospice who were wonderful to Helen Somers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 4, at St. Helena Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Bellefonte, Wilmington. Father Anthony Russo will be the celebrant with Sister Kathleen Schepani interpreting. There will be no calling hours.