Rocco Michael Antonelli III, age 70, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on January 14,
2026, at Wilmington Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
Rocco was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to Rocco M. Antonelli Jr. and Josephine C. Antonelli (née DePamphilis) and was raised in Devon, Pennsylvania. From a young age, his curiosity and love for mechanical objects were evident, a passion that grew into a lifelong career as an auto mechanic. An ASE Master Automotive Technician, Rocco was known for his deep expertise, dedication, and pride in his craft.
Rocco was truly one of a kind. He was the person everyone called when they needed help with a car, and he never hesitated to show up or lend a hand. He was generous with his time and a great storyteller, and we loved hearing the colorful stories from his sometimes mischievous past.
It still feels hard to speak of Rocco in the past tense, because he lives on so clearly in the hearts of those who loved him. He could be tough and stern, but his love for his daughters ran deeper than words and he loved them fiercely, without hesitation. His kindness extended to animals, and that compassion spoke volumes about the man he was. Rocco was strength, loyalty, humor, and love, and those who knew him carry that with them every day.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Doretta Lewis.
Rocco is survived by his beloved wife, Melodie Antonelli; his children, Alena Fittipaldi (Lee) and their children Weston and Sonia, Rebecca Gold (Eric) and their daughter Ava, Julia Leonard
(Jamie) and their children Conor and Caden; his stepchildren, Gina (Billy) and Shawn (Jodi) and
their families; and his nephews, Keith and Timothy Lewis.
Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of his life at a graveside service at
11am on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens in Pennsylvania, with
a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rocco's name to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, an organization his father once helped lead, carrying forward a family legacy of compassion and care for animals.
2026, at Wilmington Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
Rocco was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to Rocco M. Antonelli Jr. and Josephine C. Antonelli (née DePamphilis) and was raised in Devon, Pennsylvania. From a young age, his curiosity and love for mechanical objects were evident, a passion that grew into a lifelong career as an auto mechanic. An ASE Master Automotive Technician, Rocco was known for his deep expertise, dedication, and pride in his craft.
Rocco was truly one of a kind. He was the person everyone called when they needed help with a car, and he never hesitated to show up or lend a hand. He was generous with his time and a great storyteller, and we loved hearing the colorful stories from his sometimes mischievous past.
It still feels hard to speak of Rocco in the past tense, because he lives on so clearly in the hearts of those who loved him. He could be tough and stern, but his love for his daughters ran deeper than words and he loved them fiercely, without hesitation. His kindness extended to animals, and that compassion spoke volumes about the man he was. Rocco was strength, loyalty, humor, and love, and those who knew him carry that with them every day.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Doretta Lewis.
Rocco is survived by his beloved wife, Melodie Antonelli; his children, Alena Fittipaldi (Lee) and their children Weston and Sonia, Rebecca Gold (Eric) and their daughter Ava, Julia Leonard
(Jamie) and their children Conor and Caden; his stepchildren, Gina (Billy) and Shawn (Jodi) and
their families; and his nephews, Keith and Timothy Lewis.
Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of his life at a graveside service at
11am on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens in Pennsylvania, with
a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rocco's name to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, an organization his father once helped lead, carrying forward a family legacy of compassion and care for animals.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rocco Antonelli III, please visit our flower store.
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