Anna May Mark, devout Catholic

Anna May (Babe) Mark, 89, of Dover, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Living, where she had been a resident. Born in Jersey City, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Cosmo J. Fontanelli and Alice Pidone Fontanelli.

In 1953, she married the love of her life, the late CMSgt. John R. Mark Sr., and was married for 55 years. Anna May was a stay-at-home mom who deeply loved her children and family.

She was an accomplished cook and loved cooking, and caring for her husband and four children. In 1962, she had one of her recipes printed in the “Hampton’s Cook Book” along with the then vice president’s wife, Lady Bird Johnson.

Anna May was a devout Catholic and attended St. John’s Church in Milford.

Anna May loved her children and family. Since she was a little girl, she loved all kinds of animals, from her first dog, Skippy, to all of the dogs, cats, and squirrels she loved and cared for throughout her life. She loved sewing, making curtains, pillow covers, and all kinds of crafts. She learned to tole paint, taking classes with her daughter, and camping and fishing with her husband, John. She received a citation for her flounder catch. Her passion besides her children was bowling, which she learned as a child from her father. She was on many leagues in the Dover and Milford area. She loved to read, from magazines about Hollywood stars to autobiographies and medical pamphlets, and books to educate herself when her husband was sick, to care for him.

Anna May is preceded in death by her husband, CMSgt. John R. Mark Sr.; father, Cosmo J. Fontanelli; mother, Alice Pidone Fontanelli; sister, Lucille Carroll; and granddaughter, Heather A. Delmar.

Surviving Anna May are the loves of her life, her children, Sharon L. English and husband Craig of Magnolia, John R. Mark Jr. and wife Joyce of Millsboro, Laura Mark Hettinger and husband Ronnie of Rehoboth Beach, and Lt. Col. James C. Mark and wife Sheri of Lewes; 14 loving grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at St. John's R.C. Church, 506 Seabury Ave., Milford. Interment will follow in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.

To share a fond memory of Anna May or a condolence with the family, visit ambruso.com.