Susan E. Coefield

Susan E. Coefield, age 96, of New Castle, DE, passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Born in Wilmington, DE on February 10, 1927, she was a daughter of the late William F. Smith, Sr. and Susan (McDermott) Smith.  Susan attended St. Elizabeth’s School and graduated from William Penn High School and went onto The Delaware Hospital School of Nursing in 1948 where she received her degree in nursing.  She was the first chairwoman of the General Duty Nurses Section for the state of Delaware.  Her career path led her to Chrysler Corporation’s Newark Tank Plant and later Newark Auto Assembly Plant where she was the head nurse for many years.  Active in the nursing community, Susan volunteered for many years at Winterthur, the Wilmington Flower Market, The DuPont Country Club Gold Championship and with the American Red Cross.

In addition to her parents, Susan was preceded in death by her brother, William F. Smith, Jr; and sisters, Dorothy Allen, Ann Curran, and Frances Smith.  She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Donald B. Coefield; step-daughter, Ginger McLynn (Jerry) of Somerville, NJ; step-son, Steven Vaughn (B.J.) of Franklin, TN; and a host of nieces and nephews.  In addition, her nieces, Reda Carey and Debbie Buchanan; nephews, Bernie Curran and William F. Smith IV, were a source of comfort in her later years.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 am until 11:00 am on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 E. Main Street, Middletown, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am.  A committal service will be held 11 am on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in the chapel of Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Susan’s name to Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713 or online by clicking here, to Faithful Friends, 165 Airport Road, New Castle, DE 19720 or online by clicking here or to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, DE 19720 or online by clicking here.