Mildred Coben

Mildred Coben, 101, of Palm City, FL, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2026, leaving behind many who loved her and who will miss her always-positive outlook on life.

Mildred was born on August 1, 1924 to Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, and she was the youngest of three sisters. The three girls were raised by their single mother, who instilled in them a sense of female pride, independence and self-worth. As a member of the "Greatest Generation" who grew up during the Great Depression, Mildred was successful in school, graduating from New Jersey State Teachers College.

Mildred met the first love of her life, Max, during World War II, and they were married just a few weeks after the war ended in 1945 at Temple Beth Miriam in Long Branch, NJ. They first lived in Linden, NJ and in 1950 moved to Little Silver, NJ with their first son, Robert. Thereafter, Mildred began teaching elementary school in Highlands, NJ for a short time before transferring to the Shrewsbury (NJ) Borough School, where she taught 3rd grade from 1951 until 1953, when her second son, Gregory, was born. Two years later, Mildred began a 22-year tenure in the Eatontown (NJ) Borough School District, first as a 3rd grade teacher at the Vetter School, and later, as the librarian for the Memorial School. Many of Mildred's former students and colleagues remembered her and sent their regards on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

After a move to Monmouth Beach, NJ in 1961, Mildred and Max spent many happy summer vacations on their cabin cruiser, cruising up the Hudson River, on Long Island Sound, or Narragansett Bay. They named their first boat (and all the ones that followed) "No Regrets," which reflected their shared philosophy of life. On their boat trips and at the marinas they met many other boat enthusiasts who became life-long friends.

In 1977, Mildred and Max retired and started a new life together in Palm City, FL, where they were very active in local civic and social groups. Sadly, Max passed away in 2001, and Mildred began yet another chapter of her life, volunteering at the local Hospice organization, among other things. Now 77 years old, Mildred was not about to stop living, as there were always things she could do to be of service to others. Eventually, she met the second love of her life, Bill Rosen, a widower who also shared her love of life, and the two were together for 15 years until Bill's death in 2022. They were married in 2018.

After Bill's passing, Mildred (then 98 years old) started the last chapter of her life at Grand Oaks of Palm City, where she made many new friends who absolutely adored her. Mildred had a vibrant personality and was very gregarious. She could engage a total stranger in a conversation and turn that into a brand new friendship. She was also a strong and intelligent woman who always offered her help and advice to anyone who asked. These qualities of hers continued throughout her life, right to the very end. As such, she was very much loved and respected by everyone who got to know her.

Mildred will be remembered as a person whose caring knew no boundaries, and she treated everyone with dignity and respect. Just as importantly, she was very much her own person, and she would never allow herself to be defined by the man in her life (no doubt a trait handed down to her by her mother). Her love of life sustained her and enabled her to always keep going forward, no matter the obstacles, eventually reaching 101+ years old. She has been and will continue to be an inspiration to others for many more years to come. Mildred lived her life on her own terms --- with "no regrets."

Mildred is survived by her sons, Robert (Betty), Brick, NJ and Gregory (Jacqueline), Ocean, NJ; her grandchildren, Jason (Krista), Greer, SC, David (Christina), Spring Hill, FL, and Brianna, Ocean, NJ; her great-grandchildren, Max, Casey, Finley and Joe; several nieces and nephews; and also the sons of her second husband Bill and their families, Marc (Diane), Ashland, KY, Larry (Marvi), Williamson, WV, and Bruce (Gina), Palm Bay, FL; Bill's grandchildren, Brandon (Kierston) Ashland, KY, Jason Ashland, KY, Ashley, Lexington, KY, Lesley, South Williamson, KY, Brentley, Williamson, WV, Bella, Williamson, WV and Erica (Zack) Richmond, KY; Bill's great-grandchildren, Harper, Cooper, Blake and Brook; and all of her friends at the Whispering Sound and Grand Oaks communities in Palm City.

A Commemoration of Life for Mildred will be held at the Grand Oaks Assisted Living Facility in Palm City, FL from 2:30-4pm on March 13th, 2026. Interment will be at the Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta, FL on March 14th, 2026 at 10am, for immediate family only.

Donations in Mildred's memory may be made to The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, Northampton, MA, www.macular.org.