Marianne "Jean" Claire Coates

Marianne Claire (Kelly) Coates, age 85, of Newark, DE, passed away on September 21, 2024, at Cadia Healthcare Silverside in Wilmington, DE. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 1, 1939, the daughter of the late Walter E. and Mary C. (Downey) Kelly and was also predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Samuel C. Coates III and her older sister Joan E. (Kelly) Peacock. Known as Jean for most of her life, she went by a variation of her father's middle name of Eugene at a young age as a way to honor him. In her early years, she worked at Bell Telephone and United Fund in Philadelphia, then became a homemaker after marrying Samuel C. Coates III on October 17, 1959, at St. Katherine of Siena Church in Philadelphia, PA. After having three children, Jean and Sam moved to Newark, DE in 1973 in order for Sam to be closer to his job. Jean had a great love of her Irish ancestry and heritage, and passed it along to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. St. Patrick's Day was always a special day, with wearing o' the green, Irish food and Irish potato candies. When her grandchildren were young, they always looked forward to visiting their Nana's house to hunt for hidden Leprechaun money in the back yard. Christmas was also a very special time for Jean, and whole family gatherings were an annual tradition for decades. Huge piles of presents always filled a room which greeted family members as they arrived at her house, and at the end of the celebration they always had to be crammed in and struggled to fit into the departing cars. Jean was a caring, sensitive, strong woman who's favorite saying was "mind over matter", which she used to overcome both lung and brain cancer. She was a loving wife, mother, Nana and great-Nana and will be greatly missed by all. Marianne "Jean" C. (Kelly) Coates is survived by her daughter Stacy Coates-Borgia (Angelo) of Dushore, PA; sons Steve Coates (Kim) of Levittown, PA and Chris Coates (Maria) of Newark, DE; grandchildren Jennifer Schafer of Berlin, NJ, Christine Schafer of Blackwood, NJ, Matthew and Andrew Coates of Levittown, PA, Amanda Coates-Jordan (Will) of Schaumburg, IL, and Chris Coates (Danielle Dougherty) of Newark, DE; great-grandchildren Maya and Logan Remmell of North Star, DE and Liam and Levi Jordan of Schaumburg, IL; and an adopted son, Radar, her beloved Yorkshire terrier. A visitation will be held Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 9-10 AM at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchman's Rd., Newark, DE 19702 followed by a service in celebration of Jean's life at 10 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington, DE. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society. For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.stranofeeley.com

Marianne "Jean" Claire Coates

September 1, 1939 - September 21, 2024

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