Jean Louise (Ray) Szczerba

With a heavy heart, the Szczerba family announces the passing of our matriarch, Jean Louise Szczerba, on September 8, 2026, at the age of 92.

Jean was born March 26, 1934 to Leroy and Ellen (King) Ray. She had one sister, the late Helen (Ray) Lank.

She grew up in the Flats. She attended Lore School and Bayard Junior High.

Jean graduated from Wilmington High School, Class of 1951. She kept in contact with her many high school friends.

She worked at duPont, Atlas, the Veteran's Hospital in Elsmere and Wilmington Trust.

She married Edward J. Szczerba in 1953. They were blessed with seven children. They were together until Ed died in 2010.

She was an excellent seamstress and talented artist. She enjoyed all things Elvis and would ride her exercise bicycle to his music. She enjoyed dancing, basketball, and bowling when she was younger. She loved watching classic war movies and the Hallmark Channel.

Her greatest joy was hosting and attending any family event.

At her core, she was just a good person. She was kind, generous, and saw the best in people. After the tragedy of her youngest son, Joe, being killed in the line of duty (EOW 9/16/ 2011), she lost a spark. However, she worked very hard to be positive. At this point, the New Castle County Police became like family to her. They never let her down and treated her like a VIP. She needed and appreciated their love as it helped her go on with life. The COPS organization was also always there from that point on to support her as well.

Her next great sorrows were when her eldest son, Stephen, died in 2023, her great-grandson, Cameron Szczerba, died in 2025, and her son-in-law, David C. Campbell, died in 2020.

To celebrate our Mom: take the high road if someone is not kind to you; appreciate all the love in your life and generously give love to others; relish all the small and big moments of happiness that you have each day; but, most importantly, get up each day and just keep going, because no matter whatever happened in her world, Mom just kept on going.

It was a privilege to be in her world. She will be forever missed.

Jean is survived by her children, Edward P. Szczerba (Florence), Karen M. Campbell, Nancy S. Anderson (Paul), Gerald L. Szczerba, and Peter R. Szczerba (Stephanie); her daughters-in-law, Karen Szczerba, and Kathy Szczerba; her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Elizabeth Hewes (Larry), Lidia, Jack; Edward Szczerba (Estelle), Sylvia, Vincent; Philip Szczerba; Julianna Schuster (Scott), Devon, Jordan; Andrew Szczerba (Rachel), Scarlett, Andrew; Stephen Szczerba (Amber), Christopher, Carter, Hailee, Kelsee; Ashley Szczerba (Christine); David Campbell Jr., Ann Marie Campbell; Dr. Jacob Anderson (Jessie), Joey; Dr. Hannah Anderson.

A viewing will take place at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, on Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 3:00-7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, September 21, 2026 at 12 Noon at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 905 New Road, Wilmington, DE 19805. Interment will take place at Delaware Veterans Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd, Bear, DE 19701.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to NCCPD Lodge 5, 2744 Red Lion Road, Bear, DE 19701 or Delaware Concerns of Police Survivors, P O Box 430, Dover, DE 19903.