Elsie Schenck Cadden, devoted to church
Elsie Doris Schenck Cadden, 97, of Ocean View, formerly of Brigantine, N.J., crossed over at home Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.
She was born in Atlantic City, N.J., daughter of Laurence Wilson Schenck and Sylvia Arbigast Schenck. Born March 12, 1921, Elsie grew up alongside her brother Larry on the dunes of Brigantine Island. She loved telling the stories of growing up on the island, going to school in a class of five, and then graduating from Atlantic City High School in a class of over 500. Elsie went on to join the Navy in 1943 as a WAVE during World War II. She was stationed in Bainbridge, Md., where she met her husband, Chief Stephen Cadden.
Elsie was a real estate broker in the ‘50s, a librarian at the University of Pennsylvania in the ‘60s, and was able to spend many years again on Brigantine Island until she and her husband moved to Ocean View in the ‘80s.
After moving to Delaware, Elsie became a fixture at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach where she joined Sodality, organized retreat trips for over 25 years, worked on and eventually ran the bazaar, and developed the library which she oversaw until its closing. Her exacting nature was evident in the many needlework pieces she made, the Irish knit sweaters she donated, and the beautiful embroidery she created for several of the quilts that were raffled. In 2007 she was honored to receive the Order Of Merit from the Diocese of Wilmington.
In addition to her parents, Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen P. Cadden Jr.; son Stephen P. Cadden III; brother, Laurence Schenck and his wife Jane of Philadelphia, Pa.; niece, Carol Schenck of Philadelphia and Allen, Texas; and housemate Flossie Vogel of Millville. She is survived by her nephew and his wife, Russell and Jo Schenck of Allen, Texas; niece Helen Plouder and family of St. Peters, Mo.; daughter-in-law and brother, Joy Cadden and Alan Vogel of Millville; and stepgrandchildren Dylan Hamblin of Fenwick Island, and Jessica and Simon Matesic of New York City, N.Y.
A service and interment will be held Friday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m., in Millsboro at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at the home of Joy and Al in Millville. In lieu of flowers, kindly send a donation in her name to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Bethany Beach, DE.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com.
