Mary Lipka Pietlock

Mary Lipka Pietlock, 98, a resident of Kentmere in Wilmington, Delaware died on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

Mary was born in Wilmington on March 25, 1926, the daughter of Adam and Mary Lipka.  She grew up in Wilmington, graduated from Wilmington High School and Goldey Commercial College, where she participated in a work-study program with the DuPont Company.  During her 30 years with DuPont, Mary also participated in the development of nylon stockings by assisting with testing the product. 

Mary met Ben Pietlock in 1945 and they married in 1946.  Throughout their lives together they enjoyed years of bowling and trips to Rehoboth Beach, where they owned a weekend home.  In 1980, they purchased a home in Stuart, Florida and moved there fulltime after Mary’s retirement from the DuPont Company in 1984.  After Ben’s death in 2007, Mary returned to Wilmington to enjoy the company of her children and grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Pietlock; her brothers  Joseph and Edward; her sister Irene; her son Bernard Pietlock.

She is survived by her brother Bishop Richard Lipka (Susan) and sister-in-law Irene Lipka (Edward, deceased).

Mary is also survived by her daughter Barbara Ann Holzman (Robert C. Jr.) along with granddaughter Renee Holzman, grandson Robert C. Holzman III (Megan), great granddaughter Kate Elizabeth Holzman and great grandson R. Conrad Holzman IV; her daughter-in-law Patricia Pietlock (Bernard, deceased) along with grandson Adam Pietlock, granddaughter Amy Plummer (Greg) and great grandson Remmington Plummer; her daughter Christine Pearce (Richard) along with grandson Jeffrey Pearce (Ana Maria) and great granddaughters Emilia and Elinor Pearce, grandson Michael Pearce (Marina) and great granddaughter Adalina Pearce, granddaughter Kristin Simpson (Blair), great granddaughter Avery Simpson and great grandson Jack Simpson.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mary’s life at St. Hedwig Church on Friday, January 10.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 10:15AM, with A Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM.  Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary may be made to St. Hedwig Church, 408 S. Harrison Street, Wilmington, DE 19805.

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