Susanne W. Price

It is with tremendous sadness we announce that our beautiful Mom, Susanne Evelyn Williams Price passed away on August 18, 2022 at the Bishop Wicke Nursing Home in Shelton, CT. She was 85 years old.

Susanne was born in Marengo, Illinois on September 3, 1936 to Eleanor Williams, an artist and school teacher, and Spencer Williams, a railroad depot manager. Both sides of their families were farmers in the Marengo area, and Susanne’s grandparents, Alvina and Clarence Loudenbeck were homesteaders who had traveled by covered wagon from Pennsylvania to Illinois to farm the land.

Susanne met our Dad, Charles Bradford Price when she was 19 years old and working as a ‘cub reporter’ and secretary for a newspaper in Chicago. It was love at first sight, and they were married 3 months later in Los Angeles on February 16, 1956. They were married for 58 years and had a passionate and deep love until the very end. Charles passed away June 29, 2013. They lived all over the country – moving often, until settling in Stamford, CT in 1969. Charles and Sue eventually moved to Shelton, CT where they were surrounded by their children and grandchildren; never missing a baseball game and taking the grandkids to the movies on Saturdays.

Susanne was an incredible woman, a bright light in the world - a lifelong English teacher and lover of words and literature and learning and people. At around 30 (with four young children at home) she went back to college and received her Undergraduate Degree in English Literature, and her teaching credentials. With the help and support of her beloved mentor Sondra Melzer, she got a job teaching English at Westhill High School, where she taught for 35 years. She was voted “Teacher of the Year” many times and stayed in touch with too many students to count whom she had influenced over the years with her tremendous sense of humor, her kind nature, and her passion for literature and learning. Susanne went on to also earn a master’s degree in English, and mentored many young student teachers at Bridgeport University long into her ‘retirement years’.

We were always in awe of our Mom’s strength and uncomplaining nature. Susanne had had polio at 9 and spent almost a year in an iron lung and the polio had weakened her muscles permanently yet she managed to raise all of us, support our Dad in his career in International Sales, run a beautiful home, teach full time, and entertain their many friends – all done with great good cheer, humor, and grace. She remains and will forever remain a role model for our family.
 

Susanne always had a kind word for everyone and loved people. She complimented everyone she encountered, and loved to tease and make people laugh, especially her beloved grandkids. After our Dad passed away Susanne moved to the Wellesley Heights retirement community where she made a many friends and enjoyed playing cards & bingo, socializing, following politics and reading her beloved books. When Sue’s legs finally failed her and she was confined to a wheelchair and moved to the adjacent nursing home, she continued to be her bright bubbly self. And when she stopped being able to talk (all caused by Post Polio Syndrome) she still found ways to joke and laugh with the staff and visiting family and friends. Sue was treated with immensely kind and professional care by the staff of Bishop Wicke up until her last breath – and our gratitude knows no bounds.

Susanne leaves behind a large extended family: her children, Linda Price Viens & son in law, Wayne Viens, Charles Bradford Price, Jr and daughter in law Debbie Newcomb Price, Carter Bruce Price and daughter in law Debbie Gottlieb Price, and Nancy Ellen Price Jetta and son in law Kurt Jetta; her grandchildren Charles Price III and his wife Alicia Price, Andrew Price, William Price, Connor Jetta, Susie Jetta, Camille Jetta, Blake Price, Jesse Price, and Ruby Viens; and two great grandchildren: Charlie Price IV and Emma Price, as well as many dear friends and colleagues.

We know our Mom is not gone, and that she is with us always - a star shining in the heavens - lighting the way - keeping watch over us still.

A Memorial Service for Susanne will be held at the James T. Toohey & Son Funeral Home, 92 Howe Ave, Shelton, CT 06484 on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 2-4 pm. Details and donation information to follow.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Susanne W. Price, please visit our floral store.