Darlene F. Castner

Darlene (Dee) Castner, age 69, of Newark and Bear, Delaware, passed away on January 1, 2026 at home surrounded by close family after a lengthy and egregious battle with endometrial cancer.

Dee was born in Rome, New York to the late Albert and Mabel Irene (Stuart) Castner during their station with the United States Air Force. Dee attended Newark High School where she was the first graduating class for special needs in 1974. She carried her love for her Alma Mater throughout her life. Dee loved animals and enjoyed volunteering for Forgotten Cats beside her sister and niece over the years. Dee was a remarkable artist and known for her holiday cards, animal drawings, and rainbow loom potholders where her art reached beyond the east coast to places like Hawai’i and England. In addition to doing crafts, her most enjoyed pastimes included feeding squirrels, deer, and bear at home in Delaware and her cabin in Northwestern Pennsylvania, listening to her favorite artist, Tony Orlando, and watching her favorite shows, Reba, Golden Girls, Walker Texas Ranger, Blue Bloods, and Chicago Fire as well as her favorite holiday movies, Halloween, Home Alone, and Christmas Vacation. Dee’s all-time favorite movie was Garfield and was dedicated to collecting Garfield themed items. Her favorite animals were rabbits and cats and also dedicated time to collecting rabbit and cat items. Dee was a diehard Mets fan and looked forward to watching their games each baseball season. Dee loved unconditionally and was loved unconditionally.

Dee is survived by her sister and guardian, Lisa Phelps (best buddy Don), niece and caregiver, Sydney Phelps, nephew, Sean Phelps (Alexis), dogs, Chase and Hunter, brother, Albert Castner, sister’s, Gail Reeves and Diane Cebula (Wayne), niece, Sarah Cebula, and nephews, Brian Cebula, and Steven Reeves.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to her palliative care team, accent care home health team, compassionate care hospice team, and all other health care personnel involved in delivering excellent care to Dee and making her treatments and final months full of love and comfort.

To pay respects and say final goodbyes, Dee’s visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 4:00 to 5:00pm at Beeson Funeral Home located at 2053 Pulaski Highway, Newark, Delaware 19702. Dee will be laid to rest privately alongside her parents at the Delaware Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Endometrial Cancer Research Foundation at https://www.ecrfpeach.org/donate to honor Dee and help save others from the suffering she endured.

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