Henry Joseph Mancini

Henry Joseph Mancini, age 85, of Newark, DE, passed peacefully, after a life well lived, on Thursday, February 2, 2017. Born February 11, 1931 and raised in the Little Italy neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware, Henry, or Rick(y) as some affectionately called him, was a 1949 graduate of H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High School. After high school, while learning to be a machinist, Henry worked at the Brandywine Tool and Die Making Shop and at the Wilmington Floor Covering Company. Two years later, Henry began working on his machinist apprenticeship at the Wilmington DuPont Machine Shop. In August of 1951, Henry was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served for the following two years. Upon completing his service, Henry returned to the DuPont Machine Shop to fulfill his apprenticeship. He worked in the shop for 34 years until his retirement in April 1985. On February 23, 1952, at the age of 21, Henry married his true love, Barbara Niblett (Mancini). They spent nearly 65 beautiful years together, their anniversary taking place in just a few short days. Henry was a devoted husband and caregiver. He truly demonstrated the unconditional love and commitment needed to have a strong marriage. Henry was a jack of all trades, who enjoyed using his skills and talents to help others, whether they be family, friends, neighbors or co-workers. His love for woodworking was Henry’s biggest hobby. He completed several remarkable projects that displayed his incredible talent. Henry was a remarkable husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. Henry had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed telling jokes, writing poems, and doing impersonations. Henry was also a great Italian cook who shined in the kitchen. One day, family and friends will meet Henry again for a bowl of pasta and their favorite sauce. Henry was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Mancini; granddaughter, ReneÃ© Deveney; brothers, Peter and Dominick Mancini; sisters, Ann (Kane), Alice (Scatasti), Mary (Cartolano), Edith (Parisi), Gloria (Amalfitano), and Julia (Churchillo); nephews, Dominick Scatasti and Anthony Amalfitano; and niece, Diane Scatasti. Henry will be sorely missed by his daughters, Debra Mancini Deveney of New Castle, and Donna A. Mancini of Tulsa, OK; granddaughter, Nicole Deveney Pennington (John) of Middletown; great grandchildren, Joshua, Noelle and Brooke Pennington; sister-in-law, Helen Mancini of Wilmington; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and co-workers. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 12 Noon until 1 pm on Friday afternoon, February 17, 2017 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a joint celebration of life for both Barbara and Henry will begin at 1 pm. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle.