Susan J. Hurd

Susan Jane Hartford Hurd of Wyckoff, New Jersey died peacefully on May 8 after 76 years of bringing love and happiness to all who were fortunate enough to know her. The insidious disease that tried to steal her lifetime of memories failed in the end, allowing her to take with her the names and faces of family and legions of friends who loved her and supported her during her long and arduous fight.

Sue was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 3, 1947, to Everett Alfred Hartford and Jeanne Marier Hartford. They soon returned to Manchester, New Hampshire where Sue graduated from Manchester High School Central in 1965. She attended the senior prom that year with a young man who graduated from that same school just a year earlier. Michael Edward Hurd, her escort to that prom, and Sue fell in love that night, a love that lasted over 57 years and lives on to this day in his memory. She was his princess, and he was her knight in shining armor for all those too-few years. They have two children, Judith Ann White and Scott Michael Hurd. Judy and her husband Ed White have four children Michael, Steven, Grace, and Brady. Scott and his wife Elaine Kowalski Hurd have two daughters, Marissa, and Emily.

Sue was predeceased by her brother Charles and her sister Bernice. She is survived by her sister Donna Hartford Halle and her family and her brother Thomas and his wife Joanna and their family.

Sue and her husband decided that in a short time the family would hold a gathering of the people they hold dear to celebrate her wonderful life. Those who knew her remember well how she loved her garden, a love that was second only to her family that will miss her warm and loving smile forever. While she loved all, she also had a special place in her heart for her dog Penny who helped her through the agony of a pandemic that took away the hugs and kisses of her grandchildren for a time much too long. It was Sue’s wish that those who loved her donate to RBARI, 2 Shelter Ln, Oakland, NJ 07436, www.rbari.org/donate/ the animal refuge in Oakland, NJ in lieu of flowers. The battle she won to keep her memories could not have been won without the support of her loving family and her dear pet.