Sally Drane Dellaquila
November 21, 1945 - February 16, 2026
Sally Drane Dellaquila, the youngest of ten children, age 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 16, 2026. She was born on November 21, 1945 in Ridley Park, PA to the late James and Anna Drane. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1964 in Chester PA. Sally was a very pleasant, kind, loving and understanding lady, despite all her health challenges she endured her entire life. She was kind to everyone she met, no matter who they were.
Sally worked at the Chadds Ford Tavern, which her brother Tommy Drane owned, for many years in the 70’s and 80’s, gaining a lot of experience making cheese steaks and hoagies. In 1983, she moved to Huntington Beach, CA to open her own hoagie shop. She opened Dell’s hoagie and steak shop on October 7, 1983 and sold it in 1989. It still remains opened today!
Sally and her late husband, John, moved back to Delaware and Sally started a cleaning business, which she operated for 33 years before her legs gave out and she finally retired. In 2019 her husband John passed away after 55 years of marriage. She said they never had a fight that lasted over 12 hours! Sally was a member of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Newark DE which was a big part of her life.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her late husband, John Dellaquila; 2 sisters, Miriam and Ann; and 4 brothers, James, Joe, Charlie, and Jackie. Sally is survived by 2 sisters, Joan Vari, her husband Anthony, of Wilmington and Kathleen Daniels of Hobe Sound, FL; and 1 brother, Tommy Drane, his wife Earlene, of Chadds Ford, PA; and many nieces and nephews.
Sally had many friends through the years who she loved dearly, including her friends from St. Vincent de Paul. We would like to thank her many great caregivers along the way, most recently Brookdale Hockessin and Compassionate Care Hospice.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, 2431 Frazer Road, Newark, DE 19702, where a funeral Mass will begin at 11 am. Inurnment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Sally’s memory may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Margaret of Scotland, at the address listed above.
Dolores Farina
I will miss my dearest and longest friend. We met in high school. I remember thinking who is this tiny loud person from Chester!!! It was a friendship that latest thru the years no matter where she was living. When Kennedy was shot, she stayed at my house for days. We never left the TV. She would come to Sea Isle with my Mother in the summer while I was home working!!! She would meet me at the bus stop on Fridays to welcome me back to the shore. I loved her like a sister and will miss her. Dee
Deb and Marc Jastrebski
Sally you were a light in our lives! Hugs and kisses always. You are so missed. Love, Deb and Marc Jastrebski
Bill Jastrebski
I didn’t know Sally until the later years of her life, but can definitely vouch for her kindness and caring approach to everyone around her. I’ll surely miss her presence.
Jean Antoine
My condolences to Sally’s family.l’m deeply sorry for your loss.l just want to Thank you Sally for taking time to teach me how to operate a cleaning business.
Kathy Boylan
I will really miss Sally. I’ve only known her about 4 years but we became close. She was fun loving, generous and kind. Despite all her health issues she was always ready to go and do. She was a people person. God Bless Sally!
Krysta
Sally I am so sad you’re no longer here. I’ve been doing your nails and toes for the last 8 years and I cherish all of our memories together I am going to miss the heck out of you but I know you are no longer in pain. I remember every time I did your pedicure I would have to pick you up and put you in the chair and you just thought that was hilarious 😂 anything for my baby sally! I love you soooo much please look down on me my queen!
JOHN SOWDEN
SALLY,
YOU WILL BE MISSED BY ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS FROM SVDP AT SMOS.
ALL OUR PRAYERS TO YOU.
FROM ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SVDP CONFERENCE.
Alicia King
I will miss you baby girl that what I called here once I found out she was a baby girl like myself .She was a resident for a short length of time but it seemed like we knew each other for years she knew my voice when I would get close to her room and call out to her she would say that is my Alicia I miss here so much she was a kind and fun person Loved me some Sally no more pain for you. I will remember the good times we had with laughter she always made me laugh.