Mark T. Cilento

Mark Cilento Obituary
Mark T. Cilento of Middletown passed away Tuesday Jan. 9, 2024 in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. He was 67.
Mark was born Nov. 21, 1956 in Philadelphia, PA, son of Yvonne (Medin) Cilento and the late Joseph R. Cilento. He moved to Delaware at age 7. He graduated from John Dickinson High School in 1974 and from the University of Delaware in 1978 with a degree in Business Administration Finance.
Early in his career Mark had many entrepreneurial pursuits including realty, and co-owning several area businesses (Kirkwood Stoves, Inc., Kirkwood Tree Service and the Milltown Inn). For the last 30 plus years of his career he was a Financial Planner for Thrivent Financial (formerly Lutheran Brotherhood). He was a ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) and a CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) and enjoyed meeting with and developing close relationships with many clients over the years. He was also very involved with the many charitable activities and endeavors of his company including Habitat for Humanity. He retired in 2019.
In 1984, Mark married his wife Grace and they lived in Newark. Eventually they settled in Middletown where they raised their family. Mark was a man of immense energy and good humor. He enjoyed many activities and hobbies including: working on a vintage 1969 Plymouth Satellite with his son, golfing, fishing, gardening/yardwork, cooking, health/fitness, politics, and house maintenance/projects. He was, however, never too busy to help a friend, neighbor, or client and was happiest spending time with family and friends. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.
He was a member of Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Middletown for the last 25 plus years and before that St. Philip's Lutheran Church in Wilmington. He has held many volunteer positions at both churches including: Church Council (member, President, Treasurer); Sunday School/Vacation Bible School teacher, Youth Group sponsor, Grocery Club, Fellowship Committee, Property Committee and many more. He also was involved with Lutheran Community Services and assisted with an annual Walk Run and Golf Tournaments for that organization. In addition, he was a proud member for life of the Blood Bank of Delmarva.
In addition to his father, Joseph R. Cilento, he was preceded in death by a sister, Cynthia Louise Cilento.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Grace (Barrett) Cilento; a son, Kristian Cilento working in Malvern, PA; a daughter, Kimberly Cilento of Bethesda, MD; his mother, Yvonne (Medin) Cilento of Newark, DE; two brothers, Joseph Cilento of Oswego, NY and Steven (Sharon) Cilento of Northeast, MD; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wednesday January 24, 2024 at St. Philip's Lutheran Church, 5320 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808. Services will follow at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be the next day (Thursday Jan. 25) at 11:00 a.m. at Barratt's Chapel Cemetery in Frederica. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Penn Medicine Glioblastoma Multiforme Translational Center for Excellence Gift Fund, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104-9709. Letters of condolence may be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
Mark's service was live-streamed and recorded. It can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P5kFmfUaV0
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