Susan Jean Devonshire
Susan Devonshire Obituary
Susan Jean Devonshire, 81, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2024 in Brighton, MA.
Born in Portland, Maine to Horace and Agnes (Golden) Sornborger, Susan was raised in Springfield, MA surrounded by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, while her father was Superintendent for the city of Springfield. Susan was graduated from Springfield Classical High School where she made her lifelong, loyal friends Margot Richter (Beverley) and John Richter, who would later marry. Susan pursued a career in textile design, and attended the Rhode Island School of Design ('66) where she met Craig Devonshire. They married in 1968 in Springfield.
Their careers took them to New York and Chicago, then to Washington, DC where they built their first computerized design firm together. Their shared entrepreneurial drive brought them back to New York to form their second company, in Manhattan. They raised their children in Pelham, NY and later moved to Longmeadow, MA, to the house of Susan's uncle, Lester Sornborger--a house with a sprawling yard where she had spent wonderful times as a child. Susan and Craig made the Longmeadow house their home, surrounded by cherished dogs and cats and gardens of Susan's favorite roses and lilacs.
Susan was active in the Longmeadow Maternal Association (President 2010-11), the Springfield Women's Club (President 2010), and the Springfield Garden Club. In later years she returned to her love of textiles, commissioned to design intricate and whimsical wool rugs for a major manufacturer. Throughout her life, Springfield and Longmeadow remained touchstones for her, and she was fiercely proud of her identity as a Sornborger and a New Englander.
With declining mobility due to COPD and a house finally too much to manage, in 2019 Susan moved with Craig to independent housing in Springfield, together with their beloved little white dog, Derby. They got through the difficulties of COVID isolation and in the last year moved to the Boston area closer to family. After a brief hospitalization for pneumonia, Susan passed away peacefully.
Susan is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Craig; her son, Colin (Ethel Bullitt); her daughter, Dana Engell (Andrew); and her loving grandchildren, Virginia and Ezra Devonshire.
Susan leaves behind a loving family who miss her sharp wit, long (and sometimes creative) memory, keen eye for beauty, and love of all creatures furry. Thank you Susan for keeping us on our toes and leaving us laughing.
A celebration of Susan's life will be held in the spring of 2025 in Springfield. Inquiries and correspondence to Craig and the rest of the family can be sent to:
Colin Devonshire
1690 Washington St Apt 1
Boston, MA 02118
cdevonshireMD@gmail.com
A donation in memory of Susan to her favorite charity would be appreciated:
Thomas J O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center