Myrtle "Betsy" Ann (Robison) Grillo

Betsy Grillo, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2026 near the family she cherished throughout her life. She will be remembered for her deep devotion to her loved ones, her independence, and the joy she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Born with an independent spirit, Betsy left home at age sixteen with nothing but a suitcase and her determination. She rented a room in a boarding house and enrolled at Mississippi Southern College, completing her studies and beginning a life defined by courage, resilience, and self‑reliance. In the 1950s, she worked as a secretarial specialist for DuPont at the Savannah River nuclear materials production facility. After five years at Savannah River, she met Charles, and together they built a family and a life rooted in love, faith, and community.

Betsy devoted herself to raising their five children—one daughter and four sons—in the Newark, Delaware area. While nurturing her growing family, she also served for many years in the office of Holy Angels Parish, becoming a trusted and steady presence in the parish community.

A gifted cook, Betsy was known for her extraordinary cheesecakes, Christmas cookies, and her incomparable homemade spaghetti sauce. Each Christmas season she delighted family and friends with her baked gifts, and she looked forward all year to preparing and sharing the traditional Grillo Christmas Eve feast of seven fishes—an annual celebration of faith, family, and hospitality. She loved nothing more than gathering around the table, sharing meals, stories, and laughter.

Betsy was also a lifelong learner and avid reader, with a particular love of history and Great Courses lectures. She enjoyed Scrabble and all types of games, especially when they brought friends together. Her creativity and skills extended to sewing and crocheting—she could make anything, from beautiful gowns and dresses to slipcovers and curtains, and she created many afghan blankets for all of her children, each crafted with care and skill.

Her passion for gardening was unmatched. Betsy collected plants the way others collect rare coins or stamps, knowing the names and stories of each one. She was an active member of gardening clubs in every place she lived, including Simpsonville, South Carolina; Lincoln University, Pennsylvania; and Elkton, Maryland. Her gardens were places of beauty, peace, and pride.

Later in life, when she had the freedom to travel, Betsy embraced the world with enthusiasm. She kept a map marked with pins of every place she visited, each one representing a new adventure.

Above all, Betsy lived with a profound love for life, her children, her grandchildren, her great‑grandchildren, and the friends she met. Her warmth, generosity, and spirit will continue to live on in the countless lives she touched.

Betsy is survived by her 'ten' children: Angela and John Stringham, Angelo and Lenore Grillo, Michael and Michele Grillo, Anthony and Deb Grillo, and Ignatius and Dawn Grillo; thirteen grandchildren; and eight great‑grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 beginning at 1PM at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE, where a memorial service will held at 2:30pm. Interment will be private.

Flowers are welcome; however, the family also suggests that memorial gifts may be made to Longwood Gardens, a favorite place to observe nature’s beauty. Gifts can be made online at https://longwoodgardens.org/support/honor-and-memorial-gifts or by mailing a check to:

                                 Longwood Gardens

                                 Philanthropy

                                 PO Box 501

                                 Kennett Square, PA 19348

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