Charlotte Coffen

Charlotte Coffen, age 84, of Belcamp, Maryland passed away on September 3, 2023 at Brightview Assisted Living of Bel Air in Bel Air, Maryland. Born in Red Wing, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Lawrence and Geneva (Olson) Otterson and wife of 40 years to the late David Coffen. Charlotte received her bachelor’s degree from Simmons University and her master's degree from Boston University. She was president of the Essex County Girl Scouts Council before she retired. She also belonged to the Glen Ridge Congregational Church in Glen Ridge, NJ. She was inspired by all different kinds of art. She loved paintings, enjoyed the Durango Music in the Mountains, the performing arts, and visual arts. She was particularly passionate about Native American art and the role that women played in native American society and culture. She was certainly an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. Charlotte lived in Switzerland for two years and loved to travel around the world. A few of her destinations were Europe, China, Australia, and New Zealand. She enjoyed the outdoors in her younger years and took her family on many camping trips. She enjoyed finding new foods and her favorite drink was an old fashion on the rocks!

Charlotte is survived by her daughter, Kirsten Coffen and husband Brett Hillhouse of Fork, MD; son, Charles Coffen and wife Chrianne Delescen of Brax, France; two grandsons, Alexander and Valentin Coffen; two nephews, David and Dan Otterson; and life-long friend, Susan Gagnon.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, John Otterson.

Contributions in Charlotte’s memory may be made online to the "The Simmons Fund": https://www.simmons.edu/alumni/give/simmons-fund.