Rose Marie Turcol, a mother of eight who devoted her life to her children, her husband and her church, passed away on Sunday, June 15, just three days shy of her 94th birthday.
Born in the midst of The Great Depression, Rose Marie was the daughter of Italian immigrants, Nicholas and Rose Cekine. She was raised on North Broom Street in Wilmington and worked as a secretary before giving birth to her first three children. She and her late husband, Battista, moved to Holly Oak where they opened a business and brought five more children into the world. They later moved to Bellefonte.
A devout Roman Catholic, Rose Marie attended Mass at St. Helenas parish every morning. She became a Eucharistic Minister, serving on the altar for several years, and was active in all church functions.
At home, Rose Marie was the devoted mother of one boy and seven girls. She encouraged them at an early age to be prolific readers. She raised them to be ambitious but humble, and to treat others with kindness and respect.
Like her parents an avid cook, Rose Marie’s kitchen carried the scent of Italian meatballs and spaghetti several times a week, often attracting the children of neighbors for a hearty meal.
Inspired by her faith and strong will, Rose Marie cared for her husband, Battista, as he battled multiple sclerosis and later a debilitating stroke, while she herself was suffering from fourth-stage kidney disease. Refusing to surrender to their maladies, they continued taking trips to their beloved Jersey Shore where they delighted in the sights and scents of the Boardwalk.
Rose Marie is predeceased by her husband, Battista and her grandson, Joseph Luzzo; her brothers Nicholas Cekine Jr., Anthony Vignola, Carmen Vignola, and her sister Jeanette Facciolo. She is survived by her son, Thomas, of Wilmington’, and daughters Judy; Marie (Wayne) Luzzo; Betty; Anne, Mays Landing; Barbara (Ken) Witterholt, West Chester; Linda; and Rose (John) McNulty. Eight grandchildren Nicholas (Aly), Jennifer (Chris) Davis, John, Robert, Christina, Matthew, Ryan and Brianna. and six great-grandchildren, Isaac, Rashaan, Chloe, Isabella, Audrey and Elizabeth; and her sister-in-law Kathleen Cekine.
A viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 10:30-12:00 at St. Helena’s Catholic Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00. Entombment will be held at Cathedral Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Rd., Newark 19713 or St. Helena’s Catholic Church.
