Marcella Ann McAlpin, 70

TOWNSEND - Marcella Ann (Benedek) McAlpin, of Townsend, died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, in her home, surrounded by her family. She was 70.

Mrs. McAlpin was born March 26, 1936, in Eddystone, Pa., daughter of the late Ada (Moyer) and Gilbert Benedek.

She graduated from Ridley Township (Pa.) High School in 1954 and moved to Delaware in June 1969.

Mrs. McAlpin enjoyed working at Bell Telephone, Boeing-Bertol and ICI. She was a substitute teacher and bus driver and retired from St. Joseph's Parish, Middletown.

Her greatest joy in life was her family. She also enjoyed crocheting, reading, crossword puzzles, bingo and taking care of her home.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Samuel Joseph McAlpin IV, in 1999; a son, Jimmy; two grandsons, Dexter Keeler and Joshua Keeler; her mother-in-law, Doris Waltz; and father-in-law, Samuel J. McAlpin III.

She is survived by six children, Marcella A. Hall of Townsend, Samuel McAlpin and his wife of Townsend, Kathleen Keeler and her husband of Smyrna, Mary Louise Vawter of Middletown, Colleen Stanton and her husband of Middletown and Rebecca Blose and her husband of Schnecksville, Pa.; 12 grandchildren, Bobbee, Danny, Mark Alan, Jacqueline, Amanda, Matthew, Jesse, Stephanie, Mitchell, Sammy, Jimmy and Jarrett; a great-granddaughter, Kieara; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Mary and Richard Steinbach of Albany, N.Y., Shirley Christopher of Middletown and Margaret Baughman of Johnstown, Pa.; a brother and a sister-in-law, John and Barbara Benedek of Ridley Park, Pa.; four sisters-in-law and their husbands, Betty and Albert Micka of Zephyr Hills, Fla., Doris and Art Davison of Ridley Park, Margaret and Charles Cerato of Elmer, N.J. and Marie McAlpin of Ridley Park; a brother-in-law, Fran McAlpin of Ridley Park; her stepfather-in-law, Jake Waltz of Fortescue, N.J.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins; and her lifelong friends, Janet of Claymont and Betty of Minnesota.

Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown.

Mass of Christian burial will be 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Francis Xavier Church, Warwick, Md.

Burial will be in Old Bohemia Cemetery, Warwick.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or to St. Joseph's Building Fund, P.O. Box 630, Middletown, DE 19709.

Arrangements by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, Middletown, DE.