Susanne (McPeck) Gavin

 Susanne (McPeck) Gavin, also known as “Auntie Sue,” to those who knew her, passed away in Hospice care in Brewster, Massachusetts, at the age of 89. A native of Boston, she was born to John and Thelma (Shaw) McPeck. Susanne is predeceased by her husband John Doon Gavin, 1992, and her sister, Caroline Sullivan (George), 2017.

 Susanne graduated from Bridgewater State Teachers College and taught Physical Education at Dedham Junior High School, retiring in 1981. In the summers, she could be found teaching scores of lucky children to swim at Oyster Pond in Chatham.

 She married John in 1980 and was sadly widowed 12 short years later. The Gavins’ moved to Amherst, where Susanne became a Master Gardener, and was an active member of the Amherst Garden Club. She was an avid tennis player and also loved skiing. Always generous with her time, she worked as a volunteer in the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Coffee Shop and as an Amherst Hospice Volunteer. Susanne was a devout Catholic and attended St. Brigid’s in Amherst and Holy Trinity in Harwich.

 Summers were always special times to spend with Auntie Sue in and around her Harwich house on Cape Cod. She could usually be found sporting her signature pony tails, sailing her sunfish on Bucks Pond, playing on the beach with her nieces and nephews, or walking one of her beloved poodles.

 Susanne is survived by her brother John Edward McPeck (Jeanne); nieces Heather McPeck Clary (Scott) and Jennifer McPeck Kelly (Mark Smith); Florida nieces and nephew, George Sullivan (Pam), Leslie and Cindy Sullivan and Kim Winters (David). Beloved also are her great nieces and nephew…Sydney and Marni Clary, Emma and Abby Kelly, Trip Winters and Caroline Shaw. They were all the children she never had. Susanne will be fondly remembered by sister-in law, Mary Gavin Hull (Dick), and niece Betsy Hull Powers, and Jim, Tom and Connie Gavin.

 She will be dearly missed by brother, John McPeck, and wife, Jeanne, from Canada.

 A Funeral Mass will be held at a later date, this summer, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

 In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please see online obituary at www.chapmanfuneral.com to make a donation.