Mildred Napier

Long-time Westfield resident, Mildred Napier, passed away on February 4, 2025 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania after a brief illness.

Mildred was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 2, 1928, to Joseph and Sofia (Sorrentino) DeFeo.  She attended the Girls Commercial High School.

In April, 1951, Mildred married a handsome United States Marine, William H. Napier.  William was a salesman and executive in the toy industry with Selchow & Righter and later, The Games Gang.  The couple eventually settled in Westfield in 1962 to raise their five children. Mildred’s mother, Sofia, lived with the family from the early 1950’s until her death in 1971.

Mildred’s life was her family.  She juggled the tasks of raising five children (with her husband frequently on the road for work) with skill and grace.  She enjoyed cooking, Scrabble, gardening, and watching old movies and football with family.  And nothing gave Mildred more cause for delight than her six grandchildren:  Lawrence, Sean, Claire, Erin, Lucia, and William.  “Grandma Mildred” was the consummate hostess.  Every holiday road ended at her home on Fair Hill Rd where she would spoil the grandkids and stuff her guests with endless homemade Italian dishes and those yummy home baked cookies.

Mildred is survived by her sister, Louise Amato, sons William Jr. (spouse Elizabeth), Terrence (spouse Suzanne), daughter Patricia Foster (spouse Lawrence), son in law John Benincasa and five grandchildren.  Mildred is predeceased by her husband, William, children Steven and Elizabeth, and grandson, Lawrence.

A memorial gathering is scheduled for 10 A.M. Saturday, February 8th, at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery.

All who knew Mildred will dearly miss her warmth, kindness, and sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital be considered.