Marian Irene (Kitt) DiPasquantonio, age 87, of Newark, Delaware, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2023.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 12, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Pelagia "Bessie" (Wasyleczko) Kitt. Marian worked as an executive assistant for the state of Delaware for 31 years, most recently at the Delaware Psychiatric Center.

In addition to her parents, Marian was preceded in death by brothers Michael, Stephen, and William Kitt, and sister Dorothy Sobieski. She is survived by her sister Anne Reinholz; former husband, Anthony DiPasquantonio, and their children Anthony DiPasquantonio (Kim) of Lewes, Melanie Smith (Greg) of Newark, and Vincent DiPasquantonio (Laine) of Denver, CO; grandchildren Amanda Dzwilewski (Chris), Melanie Smith (Richie), Gabrielle Dipasquantonio-Algaier (Brett), Savanah Laznik (Joe), Madeline Smith (Marty), Nell DiPasquantonio, Evy DiPasquantonio; five great-grandchildren and extended family.

Marian represented the triumph of spirit over circumstance. She successfully returned to school, launched a long and successful career to support her three children, and was the most present, effervescent, and idiosyncratic (not to mention stunningly beautiful) mother and grandmother one could ask for. Lovingly known as 'Mopsey' or 'Mare' by her bevy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Marian brightened the lives of all she encountered with her zest for learning and boundless creativity. She had a profound talent for painting and photography that will adorn our walls and hearts for years to come. Her innate curiosity for all things also extended to science, classic literature, language, music, cooking, and botany. She found joy in words and word games, having always made lists of new words she encountered so as to broaden her vocabulary. She nurtured these talents across generations, and was the chief archivist of family fun and milestones with her photography.

She will be remembered for seeing marvels in the mundane-a charmingly small and sparkly box, the simple delight of homemade pasta, loose glitter enclosed in unsuspecting birthday cards, colorful outfits adorned with carefully coordinated bracelets, a Scrabble match with a grandchild, or just a drive to nowhere at all with those she loved. Most of all, she loved her family and she will be with us forever as we carry on the curiosity, creativity, playfulness and sheer joy she embodied.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, December 3.

"So long for air to brighten / time to be dazzled and the heart to lighten" - Seamus Heaney,

Fosterling