Stephen Whelan

Stephen Whelan

AGE: 62 • Wilmington

Stephen Whelan, 62, passed away at his home on December 1, 2014 from an inoperable brain tumor, surrounded by his loving family. He is the son of the late Aelred and Margaret Whelan of Brooklyn, NY. He is survived by his finance Gloria Fraticelli Stone of Wilmington, his daughter Maggie Whelan of Aston, PA, his brother Kenneth Whelan of Austin, TX, his cousin Michael Fayne of New York, and his nephew Matthew Whelan of Brooklyn, NY, and their families, his stepdaughter and her husband Katie And Josh Marteny, and granddaughters Lucia and Avrie Marteny of York, PA. He is also survived by his many cousins and life long friends from Brooklyn, Pennsylvania and Florida. A service will be held in January, 2015 in Wilmington, DE.

Stephen's life story is one that could be a TV Movie. He was not afraid to let people know about his past. In fact he was proud to tell his story because it was a life changing experience that helped him become the caring, loving man his friends and family knew. His story starts in Brooklyn where at the age of 13, he started drinking and then went on to use drugs and contracted Hepatitis C.

Stephen came close to dying by trying to keep his hands warm over a fire in a trash cash one cold winter.

While in the hospital, his Aunt Ethel told him to get what money he had left from his mother and that he was going to rehab and kick his habit. While he admits it was not an easy journey, it made him a better man. A man who became a loving father, caring brother and uncle, grateful friend, loving fiance. But most of all, he went to college and became a Certified Addiction Counselor. It was a title he was very proud of. Stephen was always willing to help anyone in need. He could always tell when someone was in trouble. He had a way of talking to people as if he'd known them for years. He never raised his voice, but offered a caring, understanding hand to let them know if or when they needed someone to talk to, all they needed to do was call him and he would be there. The greatest job Stephen had was being dad to daughter Maggie. For a man who never even dreamed of surviving past his 20's, to have a child was a dream come true. And what a great dad he was.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Stephen's honor to the following, The Sunday Breakfast Mission, Wilmington, DE, Food Bank of Delaware or the charity of your choice.