Edythe Magnani

Edythe Magnani passed away peacefully on Friday, December 16, 2016. She was 93.

Edythe was born on March 24, 1923 in Bayonne, NJ to the late Joseph and Mary (Costine) Bilics and raised in Staten Island, N.Y. At age 7, she was struck by a car, suffering a traumatic brain injury, and was not expected to survive. But her parents worked tirelessly in her rehabilitation over many months. Edythe triumphed over her difficulties and developed into a beautiful, good-hearted and deeply religious young woman.

Edythe and Eugene Magnani were married on November 6, 1943 at Camp Stewart in Georgia, where Gene was in basic training before being deployed to the European Theater during WW ll. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Edythe carefully saved the trove of letters he wrote to his bride. After his safe return, the couple set up housekeeping in Staten Island and started a family.

In 1956, after Gene accepted a position with a newly built oil refinery, they moved to Newark, DE. Ten years later, they bought property in nearby Landenberg, PA with the intention of designing and building their own home. Although they moved into the house in 1968, they continually improved and refined and added to the structure. (They enjoyed the process so much that they built two more houses, one next door.) They loved their life “in the country,” making many new friends while still living close enough to old ones, especially Mary Ann and Dom, Gene’s beloved sister and brother in law. Gene passed away in 2010.

To the end of her days, Edythe’s greatest pleasure was being surrounded by her family and having a baby in her arms. She kept her sense of humor and appreciation of nature and beauty and loved to have someone over “for a cup of coffee.”

Edythe is survived by her four children: daughter, Denise Magnani and spouse, Jonathan Kissell; son, Raymond and spouse, Marilynn Magnani; sons, Barry and Gene Magnani; grandchildren, Matthew Schweizer and spouse, Erica Heinlein; Emily, Dante and Gabriella Magnani; sisters-in-law and spouses, Mary Ann and Dominic Scolaro; Epi and Joey Mavarro; great grandchildren, Maxwell and Jacob Schweizer; many dear nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, and many friends, especially Rita Timon, who, along with her late husband, Pat, were best friends with Edythe and Gene for more than 70 years.
Edythe’s family would like to thank the staff at Millcroft for the loving care Edythe received on what she called, “The Final Stop.”

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Thursday morning, December 22, 2016 at the St. Thomas More Oratory, 45 Lovett Avenue, Newark, DE. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE.