Philomena Rosalie Marinello

Philomena Rosalie Marinello, known to family and friends simply as “Cookie,” passed away on July 18, 2026, in St. Pete Beach, Florida, after a several-year battle with cancer. She was 83 years old.

Born on May 8, 1943, in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, to Florence and Vincent James Penna, Cookie’s early years were shaped by change. When she was about a year old, her parents divorced, and she was raised by her mother. Later in life, she gained two brothers, John Penna and Frankie Brady. She remained especially close with Frankie throughout the years. John tragically gave his life while serving in the Vietnam War.

On November 2, 1965, Cookie married the love of her life, Michael Marinello, in an elopement ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina. Together, Cookie and Mike built a life centered on family. They made their home in North Bellmore, Long Island, while owning businesses in East Meadow and raising their three sons: Michael (Nicole), James (Christine), and Anthony (Catherine).

Their family continued to grow, and Cookie became the grandmother of nine grandchildren and one great grand daughter. Cookie and Mike were inseparable and shared a love of adventure and time together. They enjoyed camping in the Catskills, boating on Long Island, and spending summers on Fire Island. In retirement, they fulfilled a lifelong dream by settling in St. Pete Beach, Florida, where they enjoyed the coastal lifestyle Cookie had always envisioned.

Standing just five feet tall, Cookie was truly a force to be reckoned with. Strong-willed, outspoken, and never afraid to stand her ground, she approached life with determination and grit. Having learned to persevere through life’s challenges, she brought passion, strength, and unmistakable energy into every room she entered. She will be remembered for her resilience, her fiery spirit, and the way she lived boldly and authentically—with her signature dyed red hair and, more often than not, a cigarette in her hand.

Cookie was predeceased by her husband Mike in 2015. She leaves behind a family shaped by her strength, her love, and her example of living unapologetically and fully. Her legacy is one of resilience and a life lived entirely on her own terms. Private family services will be held in New York where she will be buried with her husband Mike at Saint Charles Cemetery on Long Island.