Penelope L. Carlisle, retired Realtor
Penelope L. Carlisle of Rehoboth Beach, beloved daughter of the late Austin Benton and Julia Carlisle, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, after a brief illness.
Penny, as she was known to her friends, was born in Beebe Hospital in Lewes April 1, 1943. After graduating from Georgetown High School in 1961, she attended Goldey-Beacom College. She worked for Tunnell & Raysor and Loyola Federal before moving to Rehoboth Beach to work for real estate broker-developer Donald R. Miller, who acquired The Henlopen Hotel. Penny was an integral part of a small management team, assembled by Mr. Miller, to operate The Henlopen Hotel and another boardwalk property, Surf Alley, for the seasons of 1970-71.
The Henlopen years were Penny’s career favorite. She had work she truly enjoyed and met several people who would become fast friends, including two co-workers, Marianne Jarvis of Lewes and Ann Lamica of Rehoboth Beach, who would remain Penny’s best friends until the end of her life.
At the end of the 1971 season, construction was started on the new Henlopen Hotel and Condominiums, and Penny joined the Henlopen Condominium sales team. As the Henlopen project drew to a close, Penny worked as a rental agent in Rehoboth until she retired in 2007. Her employers included Anderson Stokes and Long & Foster.
Penny loved to cook gourmet meals and frequently entertained her many friends and family. She enjoyed attending a monthly breakfast and Zoom meetings with her Georgetown High School classmates and hosted several of her Goldey-Beacom friends annually at her home. Penny lavished love on the many cats fortunate enough to show up at her door, and she took great pride in her lovely yard and beautiful flowers.
Penny is survived by her beloved cousins, Mary Catherine Goldberg and Bart Goldberg and his wife Traci from Millsboro; and her dear friends Marianne, Ann, Mitzi, Marie and Pam. Penny leaves a huge gap in the lives of all who knew and loved her.
Private services were held at Georgetown’s Union Cemetery on Penny’s birthday, April 1st.
For anyone interested in honoring Penny, we suggest a donation in her memory to Brandywine Valley SPCA, bvspca.org, where she adopted her last cherished cat, Dylan.
Visit Penny's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
