Susan D. Carlson

It is with profound sadness that the family of Reverand Susan D. Carlson announces her passing on November 26, 2024, at the age of 78. Susan was a highly educated, well-read, outspoken woman who dedicated her life to social justice causes. Susan received her RN from Hartford’s School of Nursing in Connecticut. Equipped with her degree and courage she moved to the Washington D.C. area where she worked as a visiting nurse throughout the Civil Rights Movement, often providing care for members of the Black Panther Party. After relocating to Massachusetts, Susan taught natural childbirth classes from her home and championed women having positive birthing experiences. She took great pride in being a Hospice Nurse, often visiting families at all hours and in all weather. Susan held a degree in counseling from Roger Williams University in RI and worked with domestic violence survivors in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area.
Following her nursing career, Susan began a new chapter of service when she was amongst the first wave of women to be ordained into the Methodist ministry at Andover Newton Theological School, earning a Masters in Divinity. Susan led churches in Myricks and Springfield, Massachusetts as well as Warwick, Rhode Island. While leading Trinity Church in Springfield, Susan helped start a no-cost prenatal and postnatal clinic for underserved women and children. Through her dedication, continued learning, and engagement in service, Susan was ordained as an Elder. She was a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, presiding over same sex-marriages long before others in the church. In September of 2001 Susan relocated to Guildhall, Vermont fulfilling her dream to live in the mountains with land for her dogs to run. Susan continued to be active in the local church community, most notably St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she helped spearhead a summer program for underprivileged children, which evolved into the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Weekend Food Program. This program continues to provide nutritious meals for hundreds of children and families in the Northeast Kingdom on a weekly basis.
Susan leaves behind her devoted husband of 54 years, Richard P. Carlson. Richard was her partner in service, and together they had an immeasurable impact on the communities they loved and served for over five decades.
Susan is also survived by her loving family that includes three children and six grandchildren: her daughter Svea, Svea’s husband Brian, and their children Ella and Parker; her daughter Kristina-Britt, Britt’s husband Jonathan, and their children Ryan and Madison; and her daughter Erika and her children Abigail and Zeliah. Susan always pushed her three daughters to demonstrate independence, pursue higher education and to follow their passion, lessons she passed on to her grandchildren as well. Susan deeply loved and cherished her children and grandchildren and to them she will always be referred to as “Mammie.”
Susan and Richard enjoyed a life blessed with family trips to the coast of Maine, thousands of hours spent wandering through the backroads and forests of NH and Vermont. They both shared a contagious love of nature and of their dogs, who they spent countless hours with on the trails. When Susan was not with her dog Rupert, she could be found tending to her beloved garden that had been a showpiece in her village for years.
She is predeceased by her parents Eleanor and John West.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Susan’s memory to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Weekend Backpack Food Program 113 Main Street Lancaster, NH 03584.
Funeral Services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Lancaster, NH on December 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM followed by a small reception in the church hall.