Avon M. Lestardo

December 30, 2021

Avon M. Lestardo, age 91, went to her heavenly home on December 30, 2021. She was originally from Beulaville, NC, where she grew up on the family farm. Avon moved to DE in the early 1950s after marrying her sweetheart, Gene. Gene and Avon were local business owners including Marcozzi’s Pizza, Lestardo’s Crab House and Lestardo’s Seafood House and Package Store. They worked side by side while raising a family and making their name synonymous with crabs. Gene preceded her in death in 1988. Avon continued to work well into her 80s just because she loved seeing and talking to her customers, whom many fondly referred to her as “MomMom” or “Miss Avon”. Avon loved her family with all her heart and enjoyed gathering for meals consisting of her special recipes handed down from her husband’s Italian heritage. Her raviolis were the best. She loved to read and spend time at the beach, sitting on the porch which was lovingly referred to as the “geriatric lounge” by she and her fellow old lady friend Elaine as they read, napped, and watched the cars go by. Avon loved to play cards and was a member of a bi-weekly card club for many years. Whenever she played cards with family you knew she would have no mercy as she would tell you, “There’s no family or love in cards!” She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 30 years. Avon will be sadly missed by her daughter, Jeanmarie Matheus (the late John Matheus); son, Eugene “Rusty” Lestardo (Lisa); grandchildren: Tina Hoffman (Mark), Kimberley Wurst, Eugene Lestardo III (Krista), Nicole Lestardo, David Matheus, Jessica Lestardo, Ashley Robinson (Daniel), and Christina Lestardo; 12 great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends. A visitation will be held Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 10 AM – 12 Noon at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702 followed by a service in celebration of Avon’s life at 12 Noon. Burial will follow in Cathedral Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For directions or to send an online condolence, visit, www.stranofeeley.com