Bret L. Smith

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.

Bret L. Smith

September 25, 1985 - June 9, 2024