Carmella Marie Sickler

Carmella (DeFrank) Sickler, age 88 , passed away on July 16, 2024. She was a lifetime resident of Penns Grove, NJ where she cheerfully and faithfully served her family and friends, her church and her community. She was born in Penns Grove, NJ in 1936 to Italian immigrants, Mary and Joe (Giuseppe) DeFrank. Carmella was one of nine children. She attended Penns Grove Regional High School where she was an excellent student and was an active member of the student government. Upon graduation, Carmella began work as a secretary for the E.I. DuPont Company where she worked for several years before resigning to become a full-time mom. She later resumed her professional career after raising 4 children and ultimately retiring from DuPont. Carmella met the love of her life, Wilbur Sickler (1932-2017), in 1954 as she was leaving a roller skating rink after an evening out with her sister, Lucy. They were married on July 6, 1956 at Emmanuel United Methodist Church eventually settling into their long-time home on State Street in Penns Grove. There, Carmella and Bill raised 4 children. Those years made many happy memories through regular extended family gatherings, Summer days at the Sportsman’s Club and annual vacations at the Jersey shore. Carmella was an active member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church (now New Hope UMC) participating in various volunteer boards, committees and fundraising activities in various positions of responsibility. She served in the local PTA, was a long-time board member of the Penns Grove Public Library and provided services as a volunteer in varying capacities for multiple sports and school groups – at one time even lending her talents to lead a team of moms in the creation of hand-made uniforms for the growing Penns Grove Middle School band. Carmella was known to all as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a tireless worker, a welcoming host and an excellent cook and baker who always had room at her dinner table for a drop-in visitor or two. She was a passionate Philadelphia sports fan and enjoyed traveling (though not too far) in retirement with her husband, Wilbur. She had 8 grandchildren of which she was extraordinarily proud. Carmella was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Joseph DeFrank, Her brothers Steve, Sam, Dominic, Joe and Gene DeFrank, sister Nancy Shaw and husband of 61 years, Wilbur Sickler. She is survived by her children Trudy Capaldi (Joe), Doug (Terrie), John (Christine) and Rob (Gina) Sickler, sisters Julie Hogan and Lucy Connor, grandchildren Rachael, Rebecca, Mariah, Nathan, Zach, Ryan, Ethan and Chase. Services will be held on Friday July 26, 2024 at New Hope United Methodist Church on Broad Street in Penns Grove, NJ. Visitation will begin at Noon and memorial service at 1pm followed by interment at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery in Pilesgrove, NJ. A special thank you to Kentmere Rehabilitation Center in Wilmington, DE whose staff provided loving care for Carmella in her final years. (88) was a lifetime resident of Penns Grove, NJ where she cheerfully and faithfully served her family and friends, her church and her community.