Susan C. Whitney

1943 - 2025

Susan Catherine (Balle) Whitney, 81, widow of Robert "Bob" Eugene Whitney, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in Newport News, VA on January 9, 2025. Sue was born on November 12, 1943, and grew up in Amsterdam, NY. She graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in Amsterdam and then went on to complete the administrative business program at Mildred Ellie in Albany, NY. Early in her career, she worked in various office positions for General Electric where she met Bob in Schenectady, NY. They married on August 17, 1974, and moved between Delmar, NY and Pittsfield, MA, ultimately settling in Pittsfield in the early 1980's. Sue worked as a secretary for Local 473 Labor Union in Pittsfield and retired in 2000. After Bob passed in 2017, she moved to be near her daughter Tara and family in Newport News, VA.

Sue was a parishioner of St. Mary's and St. Francis in Pittsfield and St. Agnes in Dalton, MA. She was known to her family and friends as 'Grandma Sue', 'GiGi', and 'Suzie-Q'. Her interests included decorating, knitting, arts and crafts, golfing, occasional trips to the casino, thrifting at the 'GW', enjoying the sun, and playing catch. In retirement, she became a very talented artist, and enjoyed painting the beauty of rural landscapes, buildings, and lighthouses. She loved entertaining, cooking, and hosting friends and family for parties and holidays. Sue was famous for her wine, cosmos, kitchen dance parties, singalongs, and arm-wrestling challenges. Sue provided a home that was always filled with love, laughter, and music. She was extremely generous, kind, patient, loyal, and lovingly honored the unique skills and passions of each person.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Catherine Balle, and her husband, Bob.

Surviving are her children, stepsons, R. Michael Whitney (Barbara) and Gary Dean Whitney (Cheryl); daughter, Tara Farrell (David); sister, Carole Saurack (Walter); grandchildren, Jen Rose (Edward), Melissa, Nicole, Monica (Mary), Robert (Jenny), Whitney, Charleigh-Anne, and Micah; great-grandchildren, Roy, MacKenzie, Alexzander, Chelsea, Beaudyn, and Evelyn; nephews, Walter and Kelly; and nieces, Katie, Jackie, and Stephanie.

Sue's family would like to thank everyone that enriched her life and cared for her so deeply during her time in Virginia - friends in the Hilton Village area, the staff and residents at The Arbors Independent Living, the nursing staff at Hidenwood Assisted Living, the pastoral ministry team at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, and the Riverside Hospice Care Team.

Funeral Notice:

Funeral services for Mrs. Susan Whitney will be Friday, January 31, 2025, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12:30 PM at St. Agnes Church, 489 Main St, Dalton, MA, 01226, celebrated by the Rev. Christopher Malatesta, Pastor. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. An hour of visitation will be held directly prior to the service, from 11 AM to 12 Noon at the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home in Dalton, 525 Main St., Dalton, MA, 01226.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan's memory can be made to The Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or 800-272-3900.

Funeral arrangements in Virginia were made by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton.