Patricia Francella (Baeuerlen) Kleinfelter

Patricia Francella Kleinfelter, 81, of Newark, Delaware passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home with her daughters by her side on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.  Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on March 17, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Carl and Villars (Krautkremer) Baeuerlen.

Pat settled in the Wilmington area in 1974.  She was employed as an account manager with Buck Simpers Architect & Associate, Inc. and also served as a Notary Public for many years. 

Pat was an active member of the community and built a strong network of friends and colleagues.  She enjoyed time with her Gourmet Group ladies, meeting each month for 40 years.  Pat’s memberships included Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Delaware Nature Society, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Mt. Cuba Center, Audubon Society, and The Grand.

Pat was a talented tennis player and was proud to have represented Delaware in the Senior Olympics several times.  She loved to travel both near and far, with jewelry being her favorite souvenir.  Pat also loved to garden and cook, host guests at her home, and play Mahjong. A lifelong learner, Pat participated in many classes at University of Delaware’s Osher program and embarked on Road Scholar educational travel.  Her library card and passport were always current. 

Pat fought a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer while continuing to be positive and active.  Her strength is inspiring and her joy for life contagious.

Pat is survived by her daughters, Jody Kleinfelter and Natalie Kleinfelter; her grandchildren, AJ Domelle and Eryn Domelle; her brother, Cully Baeuerlen and husband, Jim Hussleman; her sisters, Janis Baeuerlen and husband, Lee Grossman, Leslie Baeuerlen and husband, Mike Burke, and Sue Davis and husband, Murray Davis; her nephews, Damian Bello, Mark Grossman and Brad Davis; her nieces, Justine Olik and Jessica Davis.

In keeping with her giving and nurturing spirit, Pat generously donated her body for anatomical research to the University of Pennsylvania through the Humanity Gifts Registry.

There will be no services.  Donations in memory of Pat can be made to Longwood Gardens, PO Box 501, Kennett Square, PA 19348 (https://www.longwoodgardens.org) or The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 (https://www.thegrandwilmington.org).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Francella (Baeuerlen) Kleinfelter, please visit our floral store.