Delila "Dee" J. Backstetter

On the morning of June 8, 2023, Delila Jean Backstetter (Trace) passed away.  Dee joined her husband and soulmate Jay on his Can-Am Spyder motorcycle to set off on their next journey together. 

Dee was a well-known member of the Coatesville community having lived and worked there her entire life.  She graduated from Coatesville High School in 1971 and began working as a dental assistant for Dr. Kane, a local orthodontist.  She left there and began her career as a billing specialist working for several local doctors.  She eventually worked for Brandywine Hospital and later, Tower Health.  Dee was a master at understanding the ever-changing world of insurance claims.  She had a gift for figuring out billing mistakes and was often given the most complicated cases to solve.  Dee retired in October of 2022 having worked a total of 53 years.

In the months since she retired, Dee and her sister Vickie enjoyed many sister outings.  They could often be seen at Longwood Gardens, at the Fulton Theater, and at the bay. Dee loved the sun and seemed to have a perennial tan. 

Most of Dee’s time, though, was spent at home, working in her yard.  Dee had a green thumb and could make anything grow.  Her yard was always filled with the most beautiful flowers and shrubs.  She had a good sense of humor, so she also sprinkled in some unique items like the outhouse, sneakers filled with hens and chicks, Snow White’s dwarfs, and the mannequin.  Dee lived a simple life and found happiness and contentment in her home and in the people who gathered there.  She enjoyed sitting in the kitchen in the mornings with her Pepsi as she watched the birds at the feeder.  She often chatted about a new discovery in her yard or the plants that were blooming near the pond.  The deck, the pond, and the party shack were some of her favorite places to spend time with her friends and family. 

Dee also enjoyed spending time at the West End Fire Company.  The Halloween get-together was one of her favorite events.  She and Jay always had the best costumes.  She will be missed by many people there.  She especially enjoyed their trips to Ocean City, Maryland each year.  If she wasn’t on the beach or by the pool, she was strolling the boardwalk.

Dee was a beautiful person inside and out.  She had a warm smile, a sparkling personality, and an infectious giggle.  And she loved to talk!  And people loved to talk to her.  She made friends instantly.  She had a sympathetic ear that drew people to her. 

Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Jay Trace; her parents, Elwood H. and Betty J. Backstetter; a nephew, Stephen Berger, and several aunts and uncles.  She leaves behind three sisters: Vickie Berger (Richard), Rebecca Chiodo (George), and Suzanne Weaver (Robert) as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will miss seeing that smile and hearing that giggle.

All services are private.

Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, http://www.stjude.org/

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