Rose Marie Baffone

Rose Marie Baffone, age 89, of Wilmington, DE, went on to her eternal home on Monday, January 20, 2025. Born in Wilmington, DE, on April 27, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Rose (Phillips) Warren.

In addition to her parents, Rose Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Francis J. Baffone. Her memory lives on by her children, Michael Baffone (Kathy), Nicholas Baffone (Janet), Bernadette Dowling (John), Francis Baffone (Debbie), and Michelle Kirkpatrick (Kris); and grandchildren, Amanda, Jill, Roberta, Elizabeth, Allison, Sarah, Ryan, Tessa, Leah, and Nate. In addition, she had 11 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Living in Wilmington, Delaware for the whole of her life, Rose attended Wilmington High School where she met her husband of 53 years. In high school, she was nicknamed “Oakie”, her favorite expression was “Oh Gee!” and she played basketball, volleyball and badminton and loved to tumble and dance. Rose Marie was a faithful and hardworking long-term employee of the Wilmington Trust Company where she worked as a senior securities accounting clerk and while employed, she took many courses to further her knowledge and skills. Throughout her adult years she had many hobbies, and she would often be found playing cards, bingo or dominos and aerobics, walking and swimming. She had a talent for sewing and outfitted her family with her creations. But her favorite hobby, by far, was travelling with her family to Fenwick Island each year for a beach vacation full of sun, sand, walking, swimming, sunrises, ice cream and of course, crabs.

Rose was gentle, humble, thankful, kind and faithful to God. She greeted everyone with delight and a warm embrace. Though she only reached 4’10” in stature, her heart for people was giant. And of all the things she cared about, she loved people the most, especially her people, and did so to the very end.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rose Marie’s memory to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Attn: Donations, 3 Columbus Circle, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019 or online by clicking here.