AUGUSTA – With gratitude for a long and wonderful life, we share that our mom, 92, died peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

Susan was born on May 29, 1931, in Akron, Ohio and was the only child of Clarence and Ethel Rausch. She attended Laurel School for Girls in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Connecticut College for Women, where she earned a B.A. in Music. She continued her studies at the College of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. where she earned a certificate in Occupational Therapy. While at Puget Sound, she continued to follow her love of music by accompanying the Adelphian Concert Choir as well as performing as a piano soloist. It was while there that she met the love of her life, Peter Misner. Susan and Peter were married on Aug. 6, 1955 and moved to Boston, Mass. where Peter attended Boston University, School of Theology and she worked at Boston Childrens’ Hospital.

She and Peter moved from Boston, Mass. to Wilton, then Redmond, Wash. and finally back to Maine, settling in Kents Hill and later in Manchester.

In 1977, she received a teaching certificate from UMA and worked as a tutor at Winthrop High School and Manchester Elementary School. She shared her love of music throughout her life, accompanying the chorus and musicals at Maranacook High School, as piano accompanist with CODA Chorus, sang with Augusta Symphony Chorus, and was the choir director at the Wayne Community Church.

Susan’s primary focus was always her family. She raised five children, instilling in each of them the strong values and beliefs that she and Peter both held dear. She especially loved spending time with family and many friends at their beautiful camp in Weld.

Susan was adventurous! She went skydiving at age 80, rode a camel in Egypt, flew in an historic bi-plane and in a hot air balloon. She and Peter traveled extensively, going to Europe several times, once shepherding all five children on a grand European tour. Hawaii was among her favorite places to visit. She was the consummate hostess, planning Open Houses at Christmas, receptions and other events all strictly according to Amy Vanderbilt.

Susan was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Peter in 2015; and her son, Tom in 2019.

She is survived by four children, Christina (Sid) Rao, of Manchester, Jenny (Scott) Small, of Mt. Vernon, Anne (Donald) Coutinho, of Davenport, Fla., David, of Seattle, Wash., and daughter-in-law, Renae, of Waterville. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Laura Small Li, Mark (Stacey) and Steven Small; Paul (Courtney), Karen (Floyd), Jenette (David) and Susan Coutinho; Ben (Emily) and Alex (Ashley) Misner; and nine great-grandchildren, Brandon, Charlotte, Ava, Emma, Floyd, Kieron, Vivienne, Elliott and Eddisinn.

Special thanks to the assisted living staff at Granite Hill Estates, Jean Jennings and Sue Folk and all at MaineGeneral Hospice and Palliative Care, and the amazing team on 2 West at MaineGeneral whose care has been most appreciated. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do for your residents/patients.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Wayne Community Church at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

we suggest contributions, in her honor, to a charity

of your choice.

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