Emma M. (DiBuo) Paoletti

Emma M. (DiBuo) Paoletti, age 96, of Middletown, DE, and formerly of New Castle, DE, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Born in Wilmington, DE on March 21, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Rose (Lombardi) DiBuo. Emma dedicated her life to caring for her family as a homemaker.

A woman of faith, Emma was a devoted member of Holy Spirit R.C. Church for over 70 years. She could often be found creating beautiful ceramics and working on her latest crocheting project. Emma took great delight in cooking for her family and relished every opportunity to treat them to a meal. In her spare time, she enjoyed trying her luck at Delaware Park with her friends. More than anything else, Emma loved and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel J. Paoletti. She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Tuthill (Donald) of Middletown and Toni Paoletti-Downs (Bill) of Townsend; granddaughters, Jennifer Reed (Bryan) of Middletown, Kelly Ostrum (Mickey) of Pilesgrove Township, NJ, and Nicole Eckeard (John) of Felton; great-grandchildren, Jared Reed (Anna), Brianna Reed (Payne), Emma Vegeto, Anthony Vegeto, Alana Corrigan (A.J.), Braden Eckeard (Taylor), and Cole Eckeard; and sister, Vera Weaver.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9 am until 10 am on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Holy Spirit R.C. Church, 12 Winder Road, New Castle, DE, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am. Entombment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Emma’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011or online by clicking here; or to VITAS Hospice, 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, OH 45202 or online by clicking here.