The Late Virginia DelGuidice

March 1, 1935 – January 11, 2022

Virginia DelGuidice, beloved matriarch to her family, which included nine children, nineteen grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren, died peacefully Tuesday January 11, 2022 at her home in Davie, Florida. She was 86 years old. Her nine surviving children are Vickie DelGuidice, Donna DelGuidice, Rudy DelGuidice, Diane Caraccio, Terri Kovolis, Jill DelGuidice, Gail DelGuidice, Gina Powers, and Tina Varella. She is also survived by her brothers, Frankie Dean of Maine and Bobby Dean of New York. A lifelong lover of horse racing, Virginia was born Virginia Mae Dean in 1935 in Hialeah, Florida to parents William Dean and Rosary Starita. Virginia’s earliest and fondest memories were those of hanging around with her brother Billy at the horse track where her father was a well-respected trainer. She explained one day that she and Billy relieved a neighbor’s yard of some tomatoes and subsequently ate them. She then, for the first time and what turned out to be her only time, got on a horse. As she told it, “I fell off the horse and relieved myself of the stolen tomatoes.” No more horses for “Honey,” the nickname Virginia’s brothers gave her growing up. Shortly after graduating John Adams High School in Ozone Park, New York, Virginia took a job as a secretary in the New York Racing Circuit. There she met the fun-loving Rudy DelGuidice, a jockey—and later in life, trainer. In her words, Virginia said, “I was bored and looking for an adventure,” and Rudy was just the right guy to provide it. On January 22, 1954, Rudy and Virginia eloped to Maryland. Virginia worked most of her adult life in the service industry, while Rudy worked at the track. They worked long hours and did what they had to do to provide for their kids. They always made sure they created loving memories for the family—memories such as outings at Haulover park, cookouts at any number of park pavilions, and days at John Lloyd Park. The family’s most favorite memories center around those of cooking Sunday dinners for not only the family, but also for whoever else might show up from the track. All were welcomed. While working at Carino’s Italian Restaurant in Miami, where she worked for 27 years, Virginia was adored and the favorite of many regular customers. Although there were many, she would always light up when talking about her favorite regulars, the BEE GEES.



In her later years, if she wasn’t riding around town on her three-wheel bicycle or talking about politics, Virginia loved to spend her time at Gulfstream racetrack. Although the races didn’t start until 1 pm, Virginia would be having her morning coffee at 9 AM, already dressed with her pink hat on her head and her Dollar Store red lipstick on her lip. She would explain that she had to be there first to claim her favorite table at the paddock before anyone else beat her to it. Virginia now joins Rudy, her loving husband of 49 years, who died in 2002, in the winner circle.

All arrangements made by Guiding Light Cremations and Funerals