Cecelia Marie “Cele” Farnan

Cecelia Marie Farnan, 89, of New Castle, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2026, at Christiana Hospital.

“Cele,” as she was known to family and friends, enjoyed crafts, sewing, baking, and watching her favorite country and western movies. She was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and was the oldest of five children. Cele attended St. Paul’s Catholic Grade School and began working at a young age in her family’s dry-cleaning business.

In her twenties, she went to work for Kaumagraph Printing and Textiles in Wilmington in the shipping department. In her free time, Cele enjoyed bowling and dancing with friends. Soon after, she met her husband, John. They married and began their family together.

Cele was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years; her parents, Julie and Esther Ciociola; her brothers, Julie (Diane) and Francis (Carol); her sisters-in-law, Christine and Patricia; and her brothers-in-law, Bobby, Francis, Bernard, and James Rice.

She is survived by her two daughters, Mary McCloskey (Gavin) and Catherine Austin (Greg); her three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Connor, and Jonathan; her sister, Julia Rice; her brother, Walter Ciociola (Sherri); her sisters-in-law Diane Ciociola and Mary Monahan; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She especially loved receiving cards and pictures from them and watching them grow.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:00 am until 10:30 am on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 10:30 am. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking here.