Suenell Gable Steele, accomplished educator
Suenell Gable Steele, 71, of Georgetown passed away Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at her residence. She was born Feb. 18, 1950, in Port Allegany, Pa., daughter of the late Nelson B. and Frances (Haines) Gable.
Suenell was a graduate of Abington High School class of 1968, Abington, Pa., and the University of Delaware, earning a bachelor's degree in business education in 1971 and a master of instruction in 1981; where she met and married her best friend, Darrell. She began her business education teaching career at Sussex Central High School from 1972-75. Suenell then embarked on a career with Delaware Technical Community College as an instructor and department chair of Office Administration and Paralegal programs from 1979-2009, earning the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004. She served as the Owens Campus Faculty Council president and chaired the college-wide Portal Task Force which recommended the purchase of Oracle (Banner) for the DTCC portal and Blackboard for the first course-management application in 2002. She also spearheaded the development of the first totally online degree option (Office Software Specialist) utilizing college curriculum guidelines. American Bar Association approval for the Paralegal Program was a particular accomplishment for her department that was achieved before her retirement.
Known for her organization, love of life, sense of humor, and ready smile, Suenell enjoyed the beach, animals, flowers, reading, nature and children. While living in Lewes, she volunteered in the Overfalls Foundation gift shop and was asked to be on the Lewes Garden Tour. After moving to Georgetown, she was involved with the Georgetown Arts and Flowers nonprofit group and was instrumental in helping to establish Wilson Park as a monarch sanctuary. Suenell successfully raised monarch caterpillars and released butterflies every summer on her back porch for several years. She also volunteered at the BVSPCA inputting veterinary data to their software program.
Suenell and her husband were fortunate enough to have been able to check many travel destinations off of their "bucket list" - many of which were to National Parks throughout the U.S. 50 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, England, France, Prague, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and New Zealand. She also took numerous cruises and trips with a BFF female group consisting of Del Tech colleagues.
She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Darrell; her son, Corbin of Lafayette, Colo.; her son, Spencer and his wife Tara of Lewes; her grandsons: Lance Gable and Brendan Carter of Lewes; her brother, Robert Nelson Gable and his wife Patricia of Lewes; her sister-in-law, Brenda Burbage of Georgetown; her niece, Karen C. Grubbs and her husband Chris of Las Vegas, Nev.; her nephews: John Burbage and his wife Missy of Ocean View, and Todd Burbage of Berlin, Md.; her several aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, where friends may visit beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Suenell's memory to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963 or Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947.
Please visit Suenell's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
