Adele Gilson Sosienski

Adele (Bukowski) Gilson Sosienski, 94 years old, of Wilmington, DE and Berwyn, PA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

Adele married James (Jim) W. Gilson in 1951.  They were blessed with 4 daughters:  Christine, June, Sandra, and Jacqueline.  Adele was an accomplished homemaker, with many interests including gardening, bird watching, sewing, crafts, fashion, sports, tending to her fish aquarium and singing in the St. Helena’s choir.  Family members enjoyed Adele’s penchant for holiday entertainment, as she hosted many festive Christmas Eve dinners and Easter brunches.

After graduating from P.S. DuPont High School, Adele worked at Bancroft Mills and Delaware Coach as a secretary.  After Jim’s death in 1977, she got her real estate license and went to work at Patterson Schwartz as a real estate agent and then as a property manager.   Coincident with her real estate career, Adele bought and operated a flower shop on the Philadelphia Pike given her passion for flowers, gardening, and horticulture.   Adele was last employed as the property manager of Maplewood, a senior citizens home.

Adele was a lifelong volunteer, sharing her talents across the Wilmington community.  She was a member of the Junior Board at St. Francis Hospital for 50+ years.   She served on the Boards of Directors at the Walnut Street YMCA, Maplewood Senior Housing and the Claymore Senior Center.  She also volunteered at the St. Anthony Senior Center.   In addition, Adele became a Master Gardener through the University of Delaware agriculture extension program, lending her expertise to the public.

Adele married Alfred E. (Al) Sosienski in 1995, gaining a new step-family, enjoying VFW dances and vacationing at the beach.

With Al’s passing in 2017, Adele moved near daughters in Berwyn, PA.  She treasured her growing family, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren provided much joy.

Adele is preceded in death by husbands James W. Gilson and Alfred E. Sosienski and parents Stanley and Helen (Pajrowski) Bukowski.  Adele is survived by four daughters, Christine MacPherson (Ralph) of Newark, DE, June Gilson (Arthur Donato) of Wayne, PA, Sandra Gilson of Berwyn, PA and Jacqueline MacGibbon (Glen) of Malvern, PA; seven grandsons, Joshua, Benjamin, Stephen, Douglas, Christopher, Peter and James; two granddaughters,  Caroline and Claire; and five great grandchildren, Harper, Alexander James, Taylor, Avery and Chloe.  She is also survived by two step-daughters, Catherine Wilczynski  of Wilmington, DE and Marcella Lukowski of New Castle, DE; six step-grandchildren,  Jeff, Anne, Paula, Regina, Rebecca, and Kristin; and step-great grandchildren, Trent, Mollie, Carter, Gracie, Jake, Aiden, Reese, Charlie, Henry and Rowan.

Adele is also survived by two brothers Joseph Bukowski (Ann) of Boca Raton, FL and Leonard Bukowski (Marge) of Wilmington, DE and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, 10 Old Church Rd., Wilmington, DE 19807. Burial will follow in St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery.  Visitation for Adele will be held in church starting at 9:30 a.m.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Ministry of Caring, 115 E. 14th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or online at https://www.ministryofcaring.org/