Bret L. Smith
September 25, 1985 - June 9, 2024
Bret L. Smith, age 38, of Philadelphia, PA, left us on Sunday, June 9, 2024. He passed away peacefully at Temple University Hospital after battling a serious infection.
Bret was born September 25, 1985 in Tucson, Arizona. His family moved around a bit before settling in New Castle, Delaware when he was 5. Bret attended William Penn High School and later earned his GED. He pursued a business education at Delaware Technical & Community College as he was an entrepreneur at heart. As an adult he made a living as a server and bartender at restaurants in North Wilmington including Lucky’s Coffee Shop, Stanley’s Tavern and Goat.
Bret loved music and enjoyed attending music festivals. He also had a fascination with gems and crystals. He spent time studying them, buying and selling, constantly refining his collection. This pastime also included making jewelry. His favorite activity of all was interacting with people. Our Bret was so charming, intelligent, humorous, kind, loving, loyal and compassionate. Everyone who met him loved him and he loved them right back. Words couldn’t possibly describe what he meant to everyone.
Bret’s story also includes struggles with the disease of addiction. He had many challenges in life stemming from an unstable childhood and family situation. This weighed heavily on his extremely sensitive soul. Later he received a difficult medical diagnosis. Despite that he managed to make a life for himself and still maintained his positive personality. Unfortunately, in the past few years his addiction got the better of him. Despite that, we are proud of the efforts he made, the love he freely gave to others and know that his life mattered to us and many others. We are thankful he is now at peace and no longer struggling.
Bret is survived by his three sisters, Kasey Gaffney and her husband Sean along with their girls, Abigail, Olivia and Emily, all of Clayton; Brianne Raphael of Wilmington; and Jessica Lewis and her children, Kobe, Kloi and Kali, of Anaheim CA; and Lori Raphael of Wilmington, who was like a mother to him. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many, many friends.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 12 pm. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help offset funeral expenses by clicking here.
Kimberly Berry
Love you bro miss you always
Kevin Trottee
This one hurt my heart bro😔
Love you man!
Death metal Dave
Man, my mind can’t wrap my head around this at all, you, me, techno Chris we formed a brothers bond at one point and I’m so lost with words and honestly love you bro
Mark Celli
Bret was my best friend and brother. Through tough times and turmoil Bret showed true friendship and camaraderie making the best out of what we had. Bret was, in my eyes the true definition of Familia, I’ll always love and miss the only two true brothers who were taken from all of us. Take care of Matt if you see him, love you cuz..
Kim
This one hurts so bad. I met him as a teenager and he was so sweet, always held such a special place in my heart. I would have loved to show him the crystal moon I have just gotten. May the family and those who loved him like family find peace in this difficult time
Kasey
I love you so much…
Lexi and Trevor
We miss you Bret this one really hurt! Thanks for all the crazy ass memories you were a fashionista a hussler and a bs’er to a T but you were also the most kindest coolest and thoroughest people we’ve ever met another good one lost! 🙁♥️ Rest easy big homie love your lil sis Skell and your main squeeze Hondo 😿 🌠
Jamie Howard
Im so sorry for yall’s lose, Bret was a good friend of mine while we was in mooseheart. He would always make u laugh. Had a heart of gold. Prayers ♥
Chad Field
At his worst he was better than most.
Celeste WH
I didn’t know your brother personally, but he sounds like a cool guy that I would have liked to know. Thank you for sharing the details about his addiction, as people need to know how this disease is rampant and can take so many loved ones away from us.