Elizabeth Ann "Betty" (McSpedon) Pfeufer

Elizabeth Ann “Betty” (McSpedon) Pfeufer, age 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 10, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and service. Born in New York into a large Irish Catholic family, Betty was one of eight children. Her extended family grew so large that their annual reunions often exceeded 300 attendees—name tags were a necessity. Betty had a lifelong love of learning and participated in numerous sports and school activities. After high school, she worked as an administrative assistant for an architectural firm involved in designing the United Nations building—an experience that came full circle when she later worked within the finished building. It was in New York where she met the love of her life, her late husband, Ernie. The couple eventually settled in southern Delaware before making their home in Newark, DE, where they raised six children and made many dear friends. After Ernie’s passing when Betty was just 49, she matriculated at the University of Delaware where she earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees. She went on to teach for seven years at Ursuline Academy, touching many young lives. Betty’s devotion to her community never wavered. She generously gave her time and talents to organizations such as Christiana Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and Literacy Delaware. Her civic spirit and compassion left an indelible mark wherever she went. She was the proud matriarch of a growing family, blessed with six children, 15 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ernie Pfeufer; her McSpedon siblings, Kay, Howard, Bill, Jack, and Tom; and her grandchild, Benjamin. She is survived by her brothers, Dennis and Frank; children, Kathy (Keith) Gesler, Mary Beth French (Doug), Theresa Norton (Mike), Joan Castle (Pete), Margaret Pfeufer, Rich Pfeufer (Amy); grandchildren, Andrew (Jeannine), Jessica (Mike) , Alicia (Daniel), Kelly (Wesley) , DJ, Mike (Leah), Ryan, Katie (Chris), Emily (Justin), Connor, Jake (Heather), Stephanie (Justin), Jane, Annie; and great grandchildren, Rory, Gavin, Ayla, Wyatt, Koa, Ashlyn, Ava, Cecily, Haley, Kane, Riley. Betty’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all of the caring physicians over the years, and a very special thank you to the compassionate caregivers at Autumn Lake at Calvert Manor. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, 2431 Frazer Road, Newark, DE, where a Mass of Christian Burial will begin offered at 11 am. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth’s name to Blindsight Delaware, 1148 Pulaski Highway, Suite 137, Bear, DE, 19701; or to Lori’s Hands, 100 Discovery Blvd., 4th Floor, Newark, DE 19713 or online by clicking here.

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" (McSpedon) Pfeufer

April 10, 1931 - April 10, 2025