Margarita Bofill MacElderry (Corona)

Margarita Bofill MacElderry (Corona), age 94, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2020.
Margarita, also known to her friends and family as Margot or “Bila” (short for abuela), was born
in Matanzas, Cuba to a large and loving family. Margot held two PhDs in education from the
University of Havana, was an accomplished pianist, and taught math while in Cuba.

Margarita married Arturo Corona in 1954. They, their daughter Martha, and her beloved aunt
Sofia, who was a second mother to her, immigrated to the United States in the 60’s settling in
Wilmington. Once in Delaware she worked as a lab technician for many years at the DuPont
Experimental Station where she was known as “My Dear” to her many co-workers and friends.
Margot found love again when, as a widow, she met Bob MacElderry at the Experimental
Station. They were married in 1986 and moved to Claymont where she lived happily among her
roses and hummingbirds.

Margot was known for her incredible generosity to her family and friends, her unshakable faith,
her strong will, and also for her wonderful abilities as a Cuban cook. She was bilingual in
Spanish and English, and could give anyone who would listen, a thorough lesson in the
vocabulary and grammar of either language. She loved quoting poetry and was still doing so
until her last days.

She was predeceased by her parents Rafael and Josefina, her beloved aunt and uncle Sofia
and Juan Navarro, her sisters Carmen and Maria, her first husband Arturo Corona, her second
husband Bob MacElderry, and a host of pets that she doted on over her lifetime. She is survived
by her daughter Martha Corona Fetters and husband Rob, stepdaughter Charlotte MacElderry
Gibson and husband Mike, and stepson Bob MacElderry and wife Lisa. She is also survived by
her beloved grandchildren Robbie Fetters, (with whom she shared a birthday), Danny Fetters,
Lauren Gibson, Ryan Gibson and Eric Gibson; her niece Margarita Benitez, nephews Octavio
Benitez and Rogelio Bofill and their families; and many, many friends both young and old who
will miss her welcoming smile, generous spirit, and dining room table.

Services will be private. Donations in lieu of flowers could be made to St. Jude’s Children
Hospital or your favorite charity.

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