Marie DeYoung Erne

Marie D. Erne, 97, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, at the Assisted Living facility at Westminster Village in Dover, DE. She was under the care of hospice at the time.

Marie was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 11, 1928, to William and Amelia, nee Hasler, DeYoung. Marie graduated from the William Penn School for Girls in Philadelphia in 1946. Marie married Robert Erne on August 26, 1950. They moved to Frederica, DE then as Bob began teaching in then Frederica School. Marie began employment with the State of DE with the Board of Health. They moved to Andrews Lake Road, Felton later and remained there until Bob’s passing in 2016.

In the 1960s Marie began substitute teaching for Felton Elementary School and started attending Delaware State College part-time. In 1969 Marie became the librarian for Lake Forest North Elementary School. In 1970 she started attending Delaware State College fulltime graduating third in the Class of 1973. She was then hired as an elementary teacher at Lake Forest East Elementary School, where she taught until 1988. During her teaching career Marie earned her master’s degree from Salisbury State University.

Over the years Marie became completely deaf. In 2006 she underwent surgery and had a Cochlear implant that restored her hearing. After regaining her hearing, she became an advocate for the process, speaking with others and encouraging them to undergo this procedure.

Marie moved to Westminster Village in August of 2016 after the passing of her husband, Bob. She enjoyed the many various opportunities offered at Westminster, including the lunch out, crafts, puzzles, reading, working in the Country Store and library. Marie moved to the Assisted Living facility in October of 2024.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her older sister, Dorothy Buckley of Drexel Hill, PA and younger sisters Esther Myers of Hatboro, PA and Billie Hastings of Milford, DE. She is survived by her sons, William (Laura) of Reedville, VA and Oak Hill, FL and Wayne (Monica) of Newark, DE and Naples, FL.

Marie has been cremated by Rogers Hovatter Funeral Home, Milford, DE. She will be interred with her husband at the Veterans Cemetery in Bear, DE. Services are private.