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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Mildred S. McGraw

Mildred S. McGraw (Midge) of New Castle, Delaware, closed her eyes on the world on Thursday, September 10th, 2020, at the age of ninety-five.

Midge was born to parents Mildred and Marvin Steenbergh on January 25th, 1925, in Utica, NY.

She grew up the eldest of three and attended West Winfield High School. In 1947, she married Edward F. McGraw of Utica, NY.  They relocated to Seaford, Delaware in 1952, and then to Wilmington in 1954. The couple had three children. Midge worked for many years as a teachers’ aide at Sterck School for The Deaf in Newark. She moved to New Castle in 1994 after her husband passed.

Midge owned the Rising Sun Tavern in New Castle for twenty-four years and often opened the house for Day in Old New Castle.  She loved antiques and historic architecture, as well as the great outdoors.  She was an avid hiker well into her eighties and was a member of the Wilmington Trail Club. In her seventies, Midge took several trips to Europe, and at eighty-six, she visited her grandson in Japan.

Her cabin in the Adirondacks was her favorite place.  She loved to sit on the porch—or in the pond house—and watch the birds and chipmunks while enjoying a glass of wine.

Midge is survived by her son, Jim, daughter Ellen, and three grandchildren: Jordan, Olivia, and Emily.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Salvation Army, New Castle Historical Society, or Protect the Adirondacks.

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Funeral Services

A memorial gathering will be held at Chandler Funeral Home in Hockessin, Delaware, on Saturday, October 10th from 11 AM to 3 PM.  Visitors will be limited to twenty at a time due to Covid-19.

Condolences

    John and Ann Persinger writes,
    Dear Jim and Ellen We want to send our sincere wish for a gathering tomorrow that offers you a glimps of your mother that so many of us in the Sterck family shared. She was a warm,generous and very funny lady. John and I were fortunate to see her often after retirement and always spent time with her when she c ame down-state for her retreat every year. We know Bethany does not seem far, but we are staying close to home right now....funny because your mom was ALWAYS up for a trip to anywhere. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
    10/09/2020 05:21 pm
    Henry & Anne Nickle writes,
    Midge was a great friend to many including us. She was always a thoughtful neighbor who enjoyed sharing her home and her outdoor experiences in the Adirondacks. We will miss her greatly.
    10/09/2020 07:42 pm
    Wayne and Kathy Lynch writes,
    Kathy and I both worked with Midge at Sterck in the mid to late 70's. Midge was a joy to work with and she was excellent with the children. We all had a close-knit family at the school, and enjoyed many social activities at the school with the kids. Midge was very involved with the students, and had a knack of bringing out the best in the children and the faculty alike. Our condolences to her family and her extended Sterck family as well. We will miss this warm and loving lady.
    10/12/2020 05:47 pm
    Mark Toner writes,
    Im sorry for your loss. She was an outstanding person ~ very social. I’m a former student of Sterck school. She's now at a better place. A fantastic person she is. Again I'm so sorry. Mark E. Toner
    09/17/2025 11:22 pm

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