Ava Marie DelRicco, age 13, of Ocean View, DE passed away peacefully in her sleep and gained her heavenly wings on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Ava was born at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, MD on May 5, 2010 to George William DelRicco and Annmarie DelRicco.  She was affectionately known as "Baby Ava" in the Ocean City and Ocean Pines communities.

She was involved in a serious car accident in December of 2011 from an impaired driver that plowed into the back of the car that was carrying Ava.  Ava suffered severe injuries particularly to her head.  She was flown to Johns Hopkins, where she had immediate surgery to relieve the swelling of her brain.  The entire resort community embraced "Baby Ava" with vigils, fundraisers and prayers.  Her strong resilient personality allowed her to survive the accident, but the severe brain damage limited her quality of life.  Her mother and father became her around the clock caregivers to provide Ava with as much love and support as possible.

Although Ava's tragic accident quickly changed the DelRicco household she still brought such a bright light of sunshine to anyone that was around her.  She just finished 7th grade at Georgetown Middle School through Howard T. Ennis.  Ava loved music and would move her legs to the beat of the music in her roller-walker.  She also was a beach girl!  Ava loved being on the beach and spending time with her loving family.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Richard Aldo and Cherie DelRicco.  She is survived by her parents, George and Annmarie DelRicco; a sister, Sage; a brother, Mark and his fiancé, Amanda and their child Caleb and maternal grandparents, Jerry and Carolyn Menagias.  Ava is also survived by her aunt & godmother, Lisa DelRicco; aunt Dena Hollingsworth and her husband, Bubby and two uncles, Ronald DelRicco and his wife Diana and Michael DelRicco and 12 cousins, Nicole, Alyssa, Bubby, Brenden, Devin, Demi, Dillion, Ashlan, Tessa, Chase, Alexander and Enzo.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Rd., Ocean View, DE 19970.  A visitation will also be held from 11 AM to 12 noon on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 9903 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, MD, where a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 12 noon.  Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, DE.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Ava's name to the Epilepsy Foundation by visiting www.epilepsy.com .