Suzanne Raymond

Suzanne Raymond wore a small thimble charm around her neck, a small sign of one of her favorite pastimes, yet a bigger symbol to the person she was. Sue was a wonderful woman, who brought people closer together, sewn so beautifully into the fabric of her life. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and such a good friend to so many. Most of all, Sue was gifted with needle and thread, whose memory mends the hearts of all who knew her today.

Sue’s story began on a cool winter day in 1918, as springtime approached in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois. Those were times of trial and triumph, which saw the defeat of the Germans and their allies, and the end of World War I, which brought so much hardship to so many. On March 20, 1918, Fred and Margaret (Scott) Spinney had even more reason to celebrate, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Suzanne.

Sue was joined by her little brother William “Spider” Spinney, 18 months her junior, in the family’s home in Wilmette, Illinois, where her father worked for the Chicago Board of Trade, and her mother cared for the kids and the home. With such a small age difference between the kids, they were understandably close growing up — although she once stuffed her little brother down the laundry chute, forcing the fire department to come out and rescue him!

The whole Spinney clan was very close, though, and the holidays were always a hoot around the house. The Fourth of July featured the most fireworks on the whole block, and on Thanksgiving, Sue’s parents generously opened their home and their table to needy orphans.

The family enjoyed taking many train trips when Suzanne was growing up, forming a lifelong love for traveling by train. They also had a wonderful 10-day vacation to a northern Wisconsin resort one year, as well.

Sue attended Byron Stols Elementary School in Wilmette, before she went to New Trier High School, where the bright young woman would graduate at the top of her class in 1936. Sue’s academic excellence stemmed from her great interest in reading, geography and history.

After high school, Sue headed off to Connecticut College for Women for two years, before she transferred home, to attend Northwestern University in nearby Evanston. The savings of living at home helped her parents afford to send her little brother to Dartmouth College, which would impact both of their lives in wonderful ways.

Sue quickly dove into campus life at Northwestern, joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and enjoyed cheering for the Wildcats’ football teams the rest of her life (as well as the Chicago Bears, too). She was also a great athlete herself, and played baseball, basketball and field hockey as a young woman.

Sue graduated from Northwestern with her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, diploma in hand, she started working as a secretary for a Dean at the university. Soon she’d have other things on her mind.

Sue met a handsome young man named Bud Raymond, who was a friend of her brother, and eventually the two realized they were attracted to each other. Their first date was a trip out to New Hampshire, for Bud's graduation from Dartmouth, giving them ample time to get to know each other. Just five months later, the happy couple was deeply in love, and engaged to be married.

The couple was married on September 20, 1941, a very hot day at Sue’s parents’ home, in a big wedding — too big for the little house. They had to reinforce the floors to hold all the guests! The newlyweds honeymooned in the Smokey Mountains, before settling into a little apartment in Evanston. But with World War II upon our shores, Bud soon found himself in the military. So Sue moved with her new husband to his military bases, spending most of the time in Colorado.

While awaiting the birth of their first child, Sue moved back home and later the couple celebrated the birth of their first child, daughter Gail, in 1943. Bud didn’t see his baby girl for her first two months. Sue moved with her young child to Ft. Benning to be with Bud and after his discharge the family moved to Winnetka, IL to settle down. It was here that the family welcomed another arrival, with their daughter Nancy rounding out the happy family in 1949.

Sue was a wonderful wife and mother, a very strong and supportive parent, who was a Girl Scout leader, active PTA member, school room mother, and supported all of her girls’ endeavors. She was always there for them, soft when they needed her to be, and firm when she had to be. She was also a terrific cook, drawing on recipes handed down, and her special “Spinney Pancakes” and bread were always crowd-pleasers. Sue enjoyed going out to Indian Trail and Willow Inn in Winnetka to eat, and loved anything as long as it had salt on it!

The family did much together, from church on Sundays at the Winnetka Congregational Church, where Sue was active in the rummage sale, to the many great trips over the years, skiing in Colorado, trips to Florida and many up north, too.

Sue was a very fun-loving, sociable lady, who made friends easily everywhere she went. She was a very kind, nonjudgmental person, and people loved being around her. She was always game for everything. Sue loved Big Band music, from Bing Crosby to Benny Goodman, and loved to dance, too, especially the Charleston. She loved to read, too (Angel of Repose and Gone With the Wind were her favorites).

Sue’s greatest pastimes, of course, were knitting and needlepoint. She could knit anything, including the famous sweater promoting the rummage sale at her church. Everyone in the family has a needlepoint pillow made by her. Sue was a magician with a needle, waving it like a wand, mending anything and everything around her. She wore a small thimble charm around her neck, her most prized possession, a simple symbol for an otherwise unsentimental person.

Sue never labored on sentiment, because she never needed to; her family and friends never doubted her deep love and devotion to them, which she showed through her words and deeds every day.

She was loved by many people and as a result was called by several nicknames including; Spunzie, Little Face, ROAS, POAS, Little Muzz, Grammer, and GG Susie.

Eventually, she moved to Porter Hills in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1994 to be near her family. She also prayed the Salvation prayer and accepted Christ into her heart on Palm Sunday in 2008. Sue passed peacefully on September 26, 2008 and is now with her Lord in Heaven.

Sue was a wonderful woman, who lived a long and wonderful life, a life so full of family and fond memories. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a good friend to so many. Sue was a gifted with a needle and thead, who made so many wonderful things over the years, none more beautiful than the memories we hold so dear. She will be greatly missed.

Sue is survived by her daughters, Gail (Rick) Webster and Nancy (Larry) Faulman; grandchildren, Carrie (Doug) Stone, Sarah (Terry) Flanagan, Benjamin Faulman, Katie (Brandon) Zibell, JoAnna Faulman, and Michael Faulman; great-grandchildren, Erin, Julia, Alex, Brendan, Meghan, Jack, and Morgan. Sue volunteered in many areas at Porter Hills and will be most remembered for her high spirits, loving and giving nature, and great sense of humor. A Celebration of her life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the chapel of Porter Hills. Memorial contributions may be made to Harmony Hall of Porter Hills. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo, or to sign the online guestbook.