Mary Ann Broadhurst's Obituary
Mary Broadhurst was born Mary Ann DiLeo on April 29,1929 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She departed this world on June 13, 2026 to be with her Lord Jesus.
Her parents, John and Nancy DiLeo, immigrants from Guardia Lombardi Italy, settled in Scranton and raised five children. Mary adored her brothers Anthony, Samuel and John Jr., and her older sister Betty. The close family ties and traditions along with community connections were the themes that continued for the rest of her life.
Early years were spent enjoying activities such as softball, ice skating and dancing. Mary also learned the art of Italian cooking. After graduation from Dunmore High School, Mary worked as a telephone switchboard operator for Bell Telephone. Her lifelong love of the telephone was born.
In 1955 she married Al Broadhurst and they moved to the Washington DC area to start their family. They raised five children while living in Lanham MD. As if that wasn’t enough, her entrepreneurial spirit and love of antiques prompted her into a business venture with a dear friend.
In 1980, a new adventure began when Mary and Al moved to Lewes, Delaware, where they opened DiLeo’s, a restaurant on the canal known for its wonderful Italian meals and some colorful local stories. When she retired, she spent her time serving the community, and her home was always open to stop in where you would be fed and cared for body and soul.
Mary served her community as a member of the Beebe Auxiliary, a lay minister at St. Jude's, and a founding member of both the New Life Thrift Shop and the Cape Henlopen Food Basket. As the years passed and her mobility slowed, her mental acuity seemed to be endless. She would never miss the daily mass on TV or the ritual of calling any number of friends and family to keep up with the latest news.
Mary will be remembered as a woman who loved fiercely, shared her faith openly, sometimes gave unsolicited advice that was well needed and held many of us accountable on so many levels. She was the rock that built our foundation and the rudder that kept us straight.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents John DiLeo and Nancy DiLeo, Al Broadhurst (husband) Jim Broadhurst (son). Mary is survived by her children Sally Broadhurst, Norene Malakis (Nick), Michael Broadhurst (Colette) and Nancy Broadhurst, her five grandchildren, Anton Broadhurst, Mark Broadhurst, Wesley Broadhurst (Jasper-Lynn) Christopher West (Ashley) and Samantha Beach (Chase) and seven great-grandchildren, Waylen, Judah, Aubrey, Nolan, Caden, Jade and Henry.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, on Monday, June 22, at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Dr., Lewes, DE, where family and friends may visit from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Burial ceremony will follow the mass at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, DE.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made in Mary's memory to the Cape Henlopen Food Basket https://capehenlopenfoodbasket.org/.
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