Emilia Scarpone Tartaglia

Emilia Scarpone Tartaglia passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at her home in Ponte Vedra, Florida, surrounded by her devoted daughters, grandson, son-in-law, and adoring golden retriever “Tucker”.  Born in Teramo, Italy in 1932, Emilia was the wife of the late Ernest A. Tartaglia Jr., and daughter of the late Raffaele and Maria Ruggieri Scarpone.

Emilia emigrated to the United States at age seventeen with her brother Sam on October 10, 1949, and exactly three years later she and Ernest married on October 10, 1952, until his early death in 1987.  She resided in Wilmington for over fifty years, and then over the next twenty-four years lived with her family in Michigan, Virginia, and Florida.

Emilia worked as a professional seamstress with her sister-in-law Jean Scarpone at the Margaret D. McCaffery Dress Shop for many years, and later served as a housekeeper for a member of the DuPont family.  She enjoyed making pasta, cooking, reading, ballroom dancing with her friends and grandson, and most of all — spending time with her immediate and extended families.  Emilia was deeply committed to her Roman Catholic faith, and enjoyed praying the rosary as well as reading her prayer books on a daily basis.  Whenever a family member became ill with a cold or any type of ailment, Emilia was known for grabbing one of her favorite prayer cards (especially Saints Cosmas & Damian) and doggedly insisting that the saint card be carried around in a wallet or pocketbook!

Emilia is survived by her daughter Antoinette Wehrle and son-in-law William Wehrle; daughter Catherine Murphy; grandson Matthew Wehrle; sisters-in-law Sonia Scarpone, Janice Scarpone, and Gail Scarpone; and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her son-in-law John R. Murphy; six siblings: Simone “Sam” Scarpone, Aldo Scarpone, Evana Vitelli, Ilda Bruni, Alessandro “Alex” Scarpone, and Mario Scarpone; sister-in-law Eleanor “Carmella” Tartaglio; sister-in-law Regina “Jean” Scarpone; and brothers-in-law Bonaventura “Benny” Vitelli and Gino Bruni.

A visitation will be held at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, 10 Old Church Rd, Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday June 15, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington, with her husband Ernest.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Emilia’s memory may be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, on their website:  www.communityhospice.com