Challis A. Niles

1946 - 2018

Challis A. Niles, of Glen Mills, PA., and Bayonet Point, FL., born September 1st, 1946 at Philadelphia Lying-In Hospital, passed away suddenly of an aortic dissection on April 19th, 2018. Challis grew up in Springfield, Pennsylvania, where she was an avid swimmer, competing in the Suburban Swim Leagues and setting a record that stood unbroken for years. Her athleticism extended to cheerleading for Springfield Junior High and High School, and go-go dancing at the Jersey Shore in the mid-1960s. Challis graduated from Susquehanna University with a major in English in 1968, and remained an advocate for and supporter of her alma mater throughout her life. She delighted in her study abroad at Oxford, England, and in her Alpha Delta Pi sisterhood. Her graduate work in education at Susquehanna and at Columbia University led to a long and distinguished teaching career at Sleighton School, Village Charter School, and most recently Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where she was employed as a writing tutor. Challis married Paul Gill in 1974 at St. Peter’s By-The-Sea in Cape May Point, NJ with the wedding reception at the historic Chalfonte Hotel. Cape May was a magical spot for Challis and her family, and they will always think of her when there. Paul and Challis had one son, Jonathan Niles-Gill, whose significant academic and creative achievements were a source of great pride for his mother throughout her life. Challis had an undeniable joie de vivre: made friends easily, loved literature, art, music, film, the beach, dancing, animals, crosswords, Scrabble, trivia, and volunteering at Second Reading Book Store with her coworkers/friends. In the earlier days, she enjoyed savvily collecting art pottery and flea-marketing with husband Paul. Challis adored and doted on her niece Sarah Cancelmo Graham and husband Chris, of Houston, TX., nephew Jesse Cancelmo of Shenzhen, China, and her sister Wynne’s sweet Scotty, Smokey. In addition, Challis is survived by her son Jonathan of Dade City, FL; her two sisters, Wynne Milner (John) of Kennett Square, PA, and Christine Cancelmo (Jesse) of Houston, TX; cousins Debbie Heckber, of South Bend, IN., John Heckber of Fort Meyers, FL., and Sue Bellows of St. Louis, MO; and Anick Biatchon of West Chester, PA, her mother’s longtime caregiver and a special friend to Challis, as well as too many good and loving friends to possibly list. She was predeceased by her husband Paul and parents Stanley A. and Arlene Niles. Challis’ family takes heart in the fact that her spirit for learning lives on through the many students she taught and mentored. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the nation’s oldest HBC & U, or to the American Heart Association in Challis’ name. A service will be delayed until autumn.