Benjamin J. Panella Jr.

Benjamin J Panella 92 years old (6/9/1930 - 3/19/2023)

Ben passed peacefully to be with our Lord. He is reunited with his wife Mary of 70 years and his son Jerry. He was a great husband, father, pop pop, great grand pop, son, brother, uncle, friend and mentor. He is survived by his daughter Debbie and husband Mike DiMuzio, Son Ken and wife Kelly, daughter-in-law Maria. As well as Nine grand children, Michael (Candice), Adam (Lucy), Lindsay, Kelsy (Zach), Krista (Ryan), Kenny (Marybeth), Karlina (Spencer), Ben (Erika) and Vinnie (Alexa). And three great grand children Michael, Ava and Blair, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He is predeceased in death by his wife Mary, son Jerry, his eight  sisters, Vicki (Galleon) Cambi, Vera (Rocco) Toto, Gilda (Gus) Tavani, Hilda (Joe) Dellose, Edith (Lou) Mangini, Corlinda (Johnny) Maggitti,  Emily (Joe) Lambese, Frannie (Tony) Cutrona and parents Benedetto and Alfonsina Panella. He was an Allstate athlete at Brown Vocational and played football at Elon College, before serving our country in the marine corp in Korea. After serving he married Mary Giansanti and joined local 626 as a master carpenter and home builder, where he worked for 40 years. He retired in 1993 and moved to South Bethany Beach with his wife. He was an extremely faith filled person and helped build several buildings at St Anthony, including Padua Academy. He coached and was a mentor for many youths at St Anthony and Brandywine Babe Ruth. He loved being surrounded by his family and friends. He enjoyed golf, bowling, hunting and gardening. Everything he did was to perfection. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 27, at 11am in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 9th & DuPont Street Wilmington, DE. 19805.   A visitation will begin in Church at 9am.  Entombment will follow Mass in Cathedral Cemetery. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Benjamin J. Panella Jr., please visit our floral store.