Mary Lou Brockenbrough

Mary Louise Mary Lou Brockenbrough, 86, of Newark, passed away at Heartland Hospice House near Hockessin on Thursday, April 21, 2016.

Born in Orange, New Jersey to the late Lawrence Edward Kocher and Mary Louise Collyer Kocher, and raised in West Orange, Mary Lou lived her adult life in Newark, Delaware. She received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Delaware in 1951. In 1954, Mary Lou married Thomas W. Brockenbrough, a civil engineering professor at Delaware. After they married, she taught elementary school for three years before becoming a full-time faculty wife, a role she maintained until Tom retired in 1988.

Mary Lou was a long time and active member at First Presbyterian Church in Newark where she was past president of the Women’s Association. She taught Sunday School there for many years and enjoyed working in the church kitchen as long as she was able. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter I, Newark. Mary Lou was also active in support of her children’s activities, serving as a leader in both Cub Scouts and Brownies, and volunteered for many years as a guide at Iron Hill Museum. She also enjoyed traveling, seeing much of North America and Europe on various trips, and spending vacations in rural New Jersey, Vermont and Maine and at state parks in West Virginia.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Tom, their children, Bill (Kim) and Mary (Bill) Sears, and their grandchildren, Will, Danni, Caroline, and Lacey. The family would like to thank the staff of Comfort Keepers, the staff of the Heartland Hospice House, and Deacon Nancy Black and the congregation and staff of First Presbyterian Church in Newark.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Lou’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 292 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711.