It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Helen C. Rapposelli, on November 22, 2024 at the age of 89. Helen was born on December 28, 1934 in Wilmington, Delaware to Italina and Ferdinado Cirillo.
Helen graduated from St. Elizabeth’s grade school, St. Paul’s Commercial High School, and Goldey College, now known as Goldey-Beacom College. Helen graduated with a degree in Legal Secretaria with honors.
Helen met the love of her life in 1952, Selvestro Rapposelli of Perryville, Maryland and wed in 1953. The two built their home next door to her mother and father’s home in Wilmington, Delaware. Helen was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Theresa and Loretta.
Helen went on to work as a Legal Secretary for Larwrence “Larry” Sullivan at his private practice law firm. Helen ran in 1980 on the Republican ticket for the 5th District in the State House against then incumbent, Casimir S. Jonkiert.
In 1996, Helen entered Ms. Senior American Pageant and won Ms. Congeniality. The Ms. Senior American Pageant is the world’s first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who reached the “Age of Elegance.”
Helen’s greatest love and legacy was her family. She is survived by her two daughters, Theresa (Giuiliano) DiFulvio, Loretta (John) Shields, her grandchildren Italina DiFulvio, Elizabeth (Christopher) Denoncour, Linda (Nathan) Vielhauer, Anna Paulina Shields, Elena Katarina Shields, Sylvester Anthony Shields, and her great grandchildren, Vincent Denoncour, Gelsomina Warfield, Matthew Denoncour, Nicholas Vielhauer, Giulian Vielhauer, Christopher Denoncour Jr., Maximus Vielhauer, and Maryjane Vielhauer.
Helen is survived by her brother Dr. Ferdinand Cirillo Jr. (Dr. Margaret Krupa Cirillo) and sister Adele (Americo) Patone, Ida (Sterling) Rapposelli, deceased brother-in-law, Agnes (Frankie) Sellare, deceased brother-in-law, Mary (James) Dennis, both in-laws deceased, William (Ann) Rapposelli, Mary Ann (Rocci) Rapposelli, deceased brother-in-law, sister-in-law Edna Ballard.
She was preceded in death by her husband Selvestro Rapposelli, her parents Italina and Ferdinado Cirillo, grandparents Filomena and Lugi Cirillo, brothers Louis Cirillo and Joseph Cirillo, mother and father-in-law, Theresa and Dominic Rapposelli, great grandchildren, Dominic and Sophia Vielhauer, and her best friends Claire Stevens, and Kathy Paul.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 11:00am with a visitation from 9:30am to 11:00am at Saint Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church, 809 Broom Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19805. Entombment to follow in Cathedral Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to be made to Saint Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church.
A special thank you to Accent Care Hospice, Nurse Christine, and the staff at Wilmington Hospital. We never could have gotten through Helen’s transition to her passing without the unbelievably compassionate and complete care offered by this wonderful organization.
