Nicolina “Niki” Chirco Petro

Nicolina “Niki” Chirco Petro, age 96, of Middletown, DE, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on April 16, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Martin and Jennie (Cattano) Chirco. Niki grew up in New Castle, DE and attended William Penn High School. She later graduated from James H. Groves High School as well as Milford Beauty Academy. Niki was a beautician for many years. During World War II, she worked at Bellanca Aircraft Corp. as an escort, sheet metal worker, and engine mechanic on 21’s as a trouble shooter. Niki served on the board of directors for the civic organization in the community where she lived and chaired many activities. She was also a den mother for the Boy Scouts of America. She was a manager for the Warner Drug Store. She retired in 1989 from the State of Delaware working for the 166^th Tactical Airlift Group of the Delaware National Guard in the Communication Flight serving both the Air and Army Guard. Niki had a newspaper column in the New Castle Gazette called “Around New Castle Hundred”.

Niki had many interests, enjoying traveling, music, dancing, theatre, gardening, art, Bible studies, numismatics, dress making, crafts, cooking, genealogy, and the art of quilling and making bracelets, to name a few. She had a great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and collected more than 1,540 titles and pictures of the Blessed Virgin. She was a member of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima and served as a cell leader and cadet leader.

Niki was a member of the Holy Spirit Parish from the beginning of the parish in 1954. She participated in many of the activities and was a pioneer as the first female Eucharist minister in the parish. Niki served on the parish council several times, heading the Social Concern Committee and the Caring Friends. Being an active member of the BVM sodality, she served as treasurer and chairwoman of the Sunshine Committee, Bazar, and Penny Auction.

Niki enjoyed her family and is survived by her son, Martin J. Petro (Debbie Lynn); grandchildren, Anthony Petro, Alissa (Petro) Bonebrake, and Ashley (Petro) Nabb; great-grandchildren, Addalyn Bonebrake, Ella Bonebrake, Zoey Nabb, and Gracie Nabb; sisters, Elaine Ford (James) and Jean Andress; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Holy Spirit R.C. Church, 12 Winder Road, New Castle, DE, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.