08/04/09

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Francis A. Dalecki, Del Tech retiree
Francis A. Dalecki, 78, of Ocean View, formerly of Claymont, passed away suddenly July 31, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center after being diagnosed with cancer.
Fran was born in Wilmington and was raised in the Forty Acres. He was preceded in death by his parents Nora Dalecki Milowicki and Frank A. Dalecki. He was also preceded in death by his sister Cecilia D. Kelly.
Fran attended Wilmington High, Goldey College, and the Philadelphia Printing School. He served in the Navy from 1948-50 and then was employed at General Motors, Delaware Advertising and retired from Del Tech Engineering in 1992 and lived his dream living at the beach. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a 52-year member of Lafayette Lodge AF & AM #14 of Wilmington and the Brandywine Forest #20 Tall Cedars of Lebanon of N.A. He served as a trustee at Brandywine Tall Cedars and held appointed positions with the Supreme Tall Cedars. Fran was also a charter member of the South Coastal AARP #5226 and an active member of Fort Miles Historical Association.
Fran is survived by his wife of 56 years, Beverly Robertson Dalecki and his son Paul H. Dalecki of Pike Creek. He is also survived by his close family, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Priscilla and John Crossland; brother-in-law, Ken Robertson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Howard and Grace Robertson; two nieces, Kim Bringle (Rich) and their daughter Dana; Keri Erbe (Tom) and their daughter, Megan. He is also survived by many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Road, Ocean View. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 5, at Gracelawn Memorial Park’s Chapel, DuPont Parkway, New Castle, where friends and family may call after 1 p.m. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions be made to MDA Foundation, TCL of North America, 260 North Grant St., Harrisburg, PA 17110; or the Masonic Home of Delaware, 4800 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807.

George D. Moore Jr., retired baker
George D. Moore Jr., 73, of Pot-Nets, Millsboro, formerly of Mohnton, Pa., passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at Delaware Hospice Center, Milford. Mr. Moore was born Feb. 2, 1936, in Reading, Pa., to the late George D. Sr. and Mary Ulrich Moore.
Mr. Moore was a baker with Maires Bakery in Reading for 32 years. He was a member of the VFW Post in Adamstown, Pa., and he loved fishing and riding motorcycles.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Moore; two sons, George R. Moore of Florida and Michael Moore of Pennsylvania; two daughters, Susie Henke of Florida and Brenda Moore of Pennsylvania; a stepson, Ricky Grumbling; a stepdaughter, Cindy Wenzel; a brother, Luther Moore of Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be private and at the discretion of the family. Interment will be at the Swamp Lutheran Church Cemetery, West Cocalico Township, Pa.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

William J. Dempsey, retired supervisor
William J. “Joe” Dempsey, 57, of Dagsboro passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, July 29, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Milford, son of the late William and Grace Young Dempsey.
Joe was a Vietnam veteran, serving with the Navy Seabees. He was a retired warehouse supervisor for Vlasic in Millsboro.
Joe was a member of American Legion Post 24 in Dagsboro and the P.B.S. Gun Club in Salisbury, Md.
He enjoyed bowling and was a diehard Eagles fan.
His brother James preceded him in death in 1988. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Bonnie S. Wharton Dempsey; son, Benjamin W. Dempsey and his wife Crystal M. of Laurel; daughter, Crystal L. Serman of Clarksville; five sisters, Myrtle Stapleford of Milford, Betty Lou Hamilton of Farmington, Wendy Stapleford of Frederica, Edna Rust of Lincoln, and Marjorie Ward of Dunnelon, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Stacie and Sean Dempsey of Laurel.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions in Joe’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Sussex County, P. O. Box 625, Georgetown, DE 19947; or the C.O.P.D. Foundation, 2937 SW 27th Ave., Suite 302, Miami, FL, 33133.
Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Frankford.

Emilie Everett Tugend, former mayor
Mrs. Emilie Everett Tugend, 82, of Dover, formerly of Delaware City, died Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
A native Delawarean, Mrs. Tugend was born July 19, 1927, in St. Georges, daughter of the late Clarence A. Everett Sr. and Lucie Lester Everett. She was employed as an executive secretary with Texaco in Delaware City for 20 years until her retirement in 1985. She had also worked as both bookkeeper and secretary for the Delaware City Building & Loan Association for 24 years.
Active in local and state government throughout her life, Mrs. Tugend was elected mayor of Delaware City in 1973, the first woman ever to hold that post. She served as state auditor in 1972 and was a member of the State Unemployment Appeals Board for 21 years from 1975 to 1996.
Mrs. Tugend was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Delaware City; of Caesar Rodney chapter 8, Order of the Eastern Star; and of the Dover chapter of the Red Hat Society. In earlier years, she greatly enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially to Fenwick Island and Stuart, Fla. She was also an avid fan of the Phillies and the Eagles.
Mrs. Tugend was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, George J. Tugend, former Delaware City postmaster. She is survived by her loving daughter, Georgia Lea Tugend and her husband, David H. Fischbach of Lewes; brother, Clarence A. Everett Jr. and his wife Elsie of Odessa; nephew, Clarence A. Everett III and his wife Angie of Townsend; and dear friend, Dick Ewing of Dover.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 214 Clinton St., Delaware City, where visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Delaware City, P.O. Box 4105, Delaware City, DE 19706.

Barbara Thoroughgood, avid golfer
Barbara B. Thoroughgood, 83, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. She was born Jan. 31, 1926, in Wilmington, daughter of the late George W. and Margaret Kincaid Butz. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy B. Thoroughgood.
Mrs. Thoroughgood was a graduate of Tatnall School in Wilmington. She was a very thoughtful and caring person and wonderful friend who was devoted to her family. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed waterskiing.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, J. E. "Sparky" Thoroughgood; a son, William T. White and wife Judy of Gaithersburg, Md.; a daughter, Suzanne Adair and her husband, William Sharp of Washington, D.C.; a brother, William Butz III and wife Jean of Willmington; granddaughters, Wendy Gill and husband Curt of Atlanta, Ga., Cindy White of Gaithersburg, Md., Stephany White of Hoboken, N.J., and Annie Adair and husband Francesca Gronchi of Volterra, Italy; a grandson, George Marker of Lincoln; great-randson, Jack Gill of Atlanta and Charles Gill of Atlanta; and a great-granddaughter, Sophia Gronchi of Volterra.
Funeral services will be held at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5, where friends may call beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. John Dean will be officiating. Burial will be at All Saints’ Cemetery, Angola.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriot's Way, Milford, DE 19963, or to the Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kentway Suite 101, Byfield, MA 01922.

Dianne L. Ditommasso, enjoyed horses
Dianne L. Ditommasso, 49, of Lewes, passed away Friday, July 31, 2009, at her residence with her loved ones by her side. She was born May 8, 1960, in Wilmington.
Mrs. Ditommasso worked at Delaware Park in Wilmington. She enjoyed working with horses. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Mario Ditommasso; a daughter Melissa Ditommasso of Lewes; a son Mario Ditommasso Jr. of Lewes; three grandchildren, Deanna, Maria and Adrianna; three brothers, Victor Cirillo of Dover, Joseph Cirillo of Bear and Edward Kautz of New Castle; and two sisters, Cathy Morean of Leesburg, Fla., and Terri Cirillo of New Castle.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes; the Rev. Gail Voorhies will be officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 3 p.m., Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19966.