Mary Isabel Martelli (née Lynch), 94, of Wilmington, DE died on April 3, 2026, at Rockland Place Retirement Community.
She was the third of seven children to the Honorable C. Stewart P. Lynch and Mary Agnes Lynch (née Buckley), who predecease her. The only child not born in Wilmington, she was born on May 23rd, 1931, in Tulsa, OK, where her father was able to find work during the Great Depression. When her oldest brother Stewart died unexpectedly as a child, Judge Lynch moved the family back to Forty Acres, where Mary I, as she was affectionately known, enjoyed a happy childhood with her siblings.
Mary I was a proud graduate of Ursuline Academy and upon graduation, began her college career at Drexel University. While attending Drexel University, she met a handsome young WWII veteran named Guido Martelli and in 1952, they were married at St. Ann’s catholic church. She left Drexel to focus on what she was most passionate about – being a mother. But she never gave up on her education and in 1977, she graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Sociology.
Together, Guido and Mary I had 11 children, but their home was always open to others. They raised seven foster children, sponsored a “Fresh Air Child” from Brooklyn, NY, and hosted a Swedish foreign exchange student. As she always said, “It’s just one more potato in the pot.” She instilled in her children a sense of civic and community service. She cooked for the Ministry of Caring soup kitchen, volunteered at Catholic Charities for years, provided typing services for the blind, was as an election volunteer at polling stations, and served as the Democratic chairperson for Brandywine Hundred. A long-time parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen church, she was a lay reader for years and was very active in her Sodality group. She would regularly take her children to volunteer at St. Peter’s school in Wilmington, and she and a friend started a Girl Scout troop in Wilmington’s inner city, and Mary I served as the Scout Leader.
A woman of many interests and talents, she was an accomplished bridge player and an excellent cook. Her famous rum cake became so popular, neighbors paid her to bake for their parties and led to her starting a catering business with her best friend, Mary Lou Anderson. Her haircuts were world famous and many a bowl cut appeared in more than one of her children’s school pictures. She passed on her love of reading and movies to her children. Her favorite author was John Updike, and her favorite movie was “The Quiet Man”, which was required viewing every St. Patrick’s Day.
In addition to being a great mother, she was an independent woman who was empowered by the feminism flowering in the 1970’s, and she wanted money of her own. As such, she worked a variety of jobs, including working for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as the secretary for catholic social services, the food service manager at the cafeteria in the Concord Plaza in Brandywine Hundred, the food service manager for Stonegates Retirement Community in Greenville, and even opened her own restaurant, Maxwell Sullivan’s in Newark. After the closing of Maxwell Sullivan’s, she was the office manager for Crifasi & Young Real Estate.
As much as she loved being a mother, it seems her greatest joy came later in life in her role as grandmother. Mom Mom forged strong relationships with all her grandchildren. She had the uncanny gift of being able to relate to each grandchild, who range in age from 51 to 26, no matter their generation. They all adored her equally and unconditionally, and that love was returned tenfold.
She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Guido Rosario Martelli (dec 2018); two daughters who died at birth; her siblings Stewart Lynch, Elizabeth Lavelle, Eileen Bezigian, Gerald Lynch, Caroline Huey, and Edmond Lynch; her nieces Mary B Lynch and Carol Ann Huey; and her dear friends Joan Merkel, Mary McLaughlin, and Mary Lou Andersen. She is survived by her children; Elizabeth Martelli of Wilmington, Mary Isabella Martelli-Pajerowski (Jack) of Wilmington, Eileen Martelli (Greg Kujala) of Winchester, VA, Guido Dan Martelli (Liz Eriksen) of Wilmington, Patricia Krespan (Will) of Middletown, Dr. Anne Louise Martelli (Adam Raben) of Wilmington, David Martelli of Dulan, Taiwan, Joan Marie Martelli of Wilmington, and Stephen Martelli (Angie Gomez-Martelli) of Albuquerque, NM; 17 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren (her 16th great grandchild was to arrive two weeks before her death), 26 nieces and nephews, and her dear friend Shirley Wilson.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff Rockland Place Retirement Community for their care and compassion for our mother these past four years. We’d also like to thank Wendy from Compassionate Care Hospice for ensuring her final days were free of pain and suffering.
Services will be held on June 25. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Food Bank of Delaware, 222 Lake Dr, Newark, De 19702 or Serviam Academy, 900 N. Washington St, Wilmington, De 19801
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal”
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
