Harvard resident, lover of the arts

Sue Hildreth (Courtesy photo)

Susan Marjorie Hildreth, 65, known as Sue to friends and family, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at Heywood Hospital after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer.

Sue was born Sept. 3, 1944, in Boston to Edwin and Kathryn (Savage) Hildreth. She was the eldest of three daughters, her sisters being Virginia Hildreth, of Smithville, Texas, and MaryLu Hildreth, of Harvard.

Sue's passion was the arts. She graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City and throughout her life pursued this passion by way of acting, directing, dancing, encouraging others in the field, and as a patron. Although she earned her living through the less creative side of her brain, in accounting, Sue always chose to work for nonprofits that serviced others. She was educated at California State University, Northridge, where she met Geraldine Chambliss, of Oak Park, Calif., her lifelong best friend and third "sister."

Sue lived in many places during her life—Cambridge, Wakefield, Framingham, Cranston, R.I., New York City, Southern California, and finally Harvard, where she returned to be with her beloved grandson, Nicholas, and granddaughter, Sabrina. She was an amazing Granny, who encouraged and supported her grandchildren in all of their interests, and made sure they knew they were loved.

Sue had many hobbies and interests, such as traveling, visiting museums, enjoying music of all genres, and reading as many good mystery novels as she could. She had many friends from all of her various interests and activities. Outgoing, gregarious and larger than life, she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Sue is survived by her only child, Jonathan, and his wife, Kimberly, along with their two children, Nicholas, 16, and Sabrina, 14. She also leaves her sisters, Virginia and MaryLu, as well as her nephew, Dylan Hildreth Hoffman of New York City. She also leaves a wonderful extended family of cousins that are scattered from one coast to the other, as well as some across the "pond."

A celebration of her life will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 7 Faulkner St. in Ayer, on Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. The reception that follows is open to all. Flowers are welcome and can be sent to St. Andrew's to add to the celebration, or if preferred, donations can be made to the Heywood Hospital Oncology Unit, www.heywood.org, where Sue felt truly embraced and deeply cared for by the entire staff.