Deborah Ann (Gravelle) Coen

Deborah Coen, 62, died peacefully on February 15, 2017, at her home in Wilmington, surrounded by family and closest friends.

Deborah was born in Coaldale, PA on June 15, 1954. Deborah and her family later moved to Dover, DE, where she graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 1972.

She then attended the University of Delaware where she met her husband, Shawn, and received two Master’s degrees in French Literature and Linguistics in 1978. She worked in the Linguistics department at the University of Delaware for several years and also spent 13 years as an editor and translator at DuPont. Deborah later became an English and Spanish teacher at Wilmington Christian School, where she led the Foreign Exchange Student Program and organized student trips abroad. She was also a member of Brandywine Valley Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and took many mission trips to Peru. An avid reader, talented musician, and gifted teacher, Deborah was endlessly creative, curious, and loved by many.

Deborah was the daughter of Anne F. Gravelle and the late William A. Gravelle. She is survived by Shawn, her husband of 40 years; children, Erin Engle (Richard), Elisabeth Mericle (Christopher), Drew, and “son” Daniel Fuenmayor. She is also survived by grandchildren, Ricky, Logan, and Elise; her mother, Anne F. Gravelle, brother, William Gravelle (Joan), and sister, Leslie Pike (Greg).

Our sincere thanks go to Roisin Maritxell Connolly, MD and the Oncology Department at Johns Hopkins Hospital for their care of Deborah.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church, 7 Mt. Lebanon Rd., Wilmington, DE, 19803, on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 6:30 pm, where friends may visit from 5:00-6:30 pm. Interment will be private.

Contributions may be made in Deborah’s memory to Wilmington Christian School, 825 Loveville Road, Hockessin, DE 19707, or to Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Rd, Newark, DE 19713.

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